30 feared dead after bus carrying wedding guests falls into gorge in Uttarakhand

A wedding celebration in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district turned tragic when a bus carrying wedding guests plunged into a 200-foot gorge late on Friday night. The bus, filled with 40 to 50 passengers, was traveling from Laldhang in Haridwar to Bironkhal village in Pauri when the driver reportedly lost control near Simandi village, just two kilometers from the bride’s house.

Local reports suggest that 25 to 30 people are feared dead, though the official death toll has not yet been confirmed. The accident occurred around 8 PM, and the bus spiraled down into the deep gorge, with passengers screaming for help. Villagers from nearby areas rushed to the scene to assist.

Rescue operations began swiftly with the involvement of local police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Rescue workers used torches and mobile phone lights to search for survivors through the night. The injured were immediately taken to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment, while officials are still investigating the exact cause of the accident. Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri arrived at the scene shortly after the tragedy, facing an emotional response from grieving villagers who expressed anger and despair over the incident.