48 killed while 12 injured

Uttarakhand, June 30: In a tragic incident, A total of 48 people were killed and twelve injured in a bus accident in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal district on Sunday morning.

Forty-four people died on the spot while one succumbed to injuries after being taken to a hospital in Dhumakot. The injured are being taken to a local hospital.

The bus was traveling from Bhaun to Ramnagar.

Speaking about the accident, Garhwal Commissioner Dilip Jawalkar said 20 bodies have been recovered and the number of casualties is expected to rise.

Owing to limited resources in the far-flung area, police found it hard to initiate rescue operations. Seven ambulances are on standby in Rishikesh.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. He said the state government will bear the cost of treatment for the injured and adequate compensation will be paid to them.

A magisterial probe has also been ordered into the tragedy.