At least 36 dead after overcrowded and dilapidated bus skids into a deep gorge in northern India

LUCKNOW, India (AP) — A poorly maintained and overcrowded autobus veered disconnected nan roadworthy and plunged into a heavy gorge successful bluish India connected Monday, sidesplitting astatine slightest 36 group and injuring respective others, officials said.

The mishap occurred successful Almora territory successful nan mountainous authorities of Uttarakhand. The autobus was carrying astir 60 people, and much than 20 person been injured, said Deepak Rawat, a elder authorities government official.

Authorities said earlier they believed location were 42 passengers, which was really galore group nan autobus could accommodate.

Teams of rescue and alleviation workers were deployed to nan tract and officials feared nan decease toll whitethorn emergence further, particularly arsenic 7 passengers successful infirmary were successful captious condition.

The state’s main curate earlier said rescue teams were moving to quickly evacuate nan injured passengers to adjacent hospitals and that authorities person been instructed to airlift those earnestly hurt.

The authorities government has opened an investigation into nan accident, said Vineet Pal, different charismatic successful nan state. He added that preliminary accusation suggested that nan dilapidated autobus skidded earlier tumbling down a 60 meter- (200-foot-) -deep gorge.

A number of passengers managed to flight aliases were thrown retired by nan impact, and past alerted authorities astir nan accident. Two carrier officials person been suspended for approving a autobus that was successful specified mediocre condition, Pal said.

India has immoderate of nan highest roadworthy decease rates successful nan world, pinch hundreds of thousands of group killed and injured annually. Most crashes are blamed connected reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles.

In July, at slightest 18 group died aft a double-decker rider autobus collided pinch a beverage motortruck successful Uttar Pradesh state. In May, a autobus carrying Hindu pilgrims skidded and rolled into a heavy gorge connected a mountainous road successful Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing astatine slightest 21 people.