45 killed in Almorah mishap

DEHRADUN: Forty-five people were killed and 22 injured when the truck they were travelling in fell into a 200-metre-deep gorge near Bhikiasein in Uttaranchal's Almora district on Tuesday, police said. The cause of the accident was not immediately known. 

The truck was carrying a large group of people from Vasaut to a nearby village in the Manila area for a marriage when the mishap occurred, they said.

An official statement confirmed the death of 45 people and said rescue and search operations were on in full swing.

The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals and the condition of at least seven people was described as critical.

Chief Minister N D Tiwari expressed shock at the accident and ordered a magisterial inquiry into the mishap. directed district authorities to provide immediate relief to the injured.

Tiwari also announced compensation of Rs one lakh for the next of the kin of the dead and Rs 25000 for the injured.

Ironically, the marriage party had set out in a bus. Following an argument with its driver, the party left the bus and boarded the truck.