4 dead, 20 injured as bus falls into Teesta gorge near Kalimpong-Sikkim border

A fatal bus accident occurred near Rangpo, on the border of Kalimpong and Sikkim, when a tourist bus traveling from Siliguri to Gangtok lost control and fell into the Teesta river gorge. The incident occurred around 1 pm on Saturday, as the bus was navigating a sharp curve on a hilly road near Rangpo. The bus, which was carrying tourists, veered off the road and plunged into the ravine. Due to the low water levels in the Teesta River at the time of the accident, the bus became stuck on the riverbank, preventing it from being fully submerged.

Emergency responders, including police from Sikkim and Kalimpong, arrived at the scene to begin the rescue operation. Four people have been confirmed dead, and approximately 20 others have been injured. The injured passengers, some of whom are reported to be in critical condition, have been transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. Rescue teams have been working to evacuate the remaining passengers from the bus and provide medical care on-site. The authorities are continuing the operation, which involves extracting passengers and assessing their conditions.

In addition to the passengers on the bus, some workers who were performing maintenance work on the national highway at the time of the incident were reportedly affected. One worker has been confirmed dead. The bus was reportedly traveling from Siliguri to Gangtok when it went off course. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the authorities. Efforts to determine the exact number of fatalities and injuries are ongoing as rescue operations continue.