At Least 22 Dead, Four Injured and Four Missing in Pilgrim Bus Crash in India

MADRID, 6 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

At least 22 people have died, four have been injured and four are missing after a pilgrim bus accident fell into a gorge in the state of Uttarakhand, in northern India, on Sunday.

Police have reported that the death toll is likely to rise as rescue operations continue, and three passengers and the driver of the vehicle are being searched for, according to the 'Hindustan Times'.

The bus carrying 28 pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh to the Yamunotri shrine in the Himalayan mountains fell into a 250-meter-deep gorge near Damta in Uttarakhand district, police sources said.

Badkot Subdivision Magistrate in Uttarakhand state, Shalini Negi, has reported that 22 passengers have died and four have been injured and taken for treatment.

The incident took place about four kilometers from Damta, along the Yamunotri national highway, under the jurisdiction of the Purola police station, at around 7:00 p.m. (local time).

The spokeswoman for the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Lalita Negi, has said that several emergency teams from various locations have been sent to the scene of the accident.

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims through the official account of his office on Twitter and has announced compensation of 2,500 euros (200,000 rupees) for people who have lost a family and around 645 euros for the injured (50,000 rupees).

The precariousness of the roads, reckless driving and an excess of passengers cause these types of events to be frequent in India.