Almora: Twenty-three persons were injured, three of them seriously, when a state-owned bus they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Almora district in the wee hours.
The mishap occurred at 4.15 am when the bus going from Delhi to Gairsain in Chamoli district fell into a 50 ft deep gorge, 17 km from Bhikiyasain in the district, Almora SP Ashok Kumar Bhatt said.
The accident apparently occurred when an animal suddenly came in front of the vehicle and the driver sharply turned left to avoid hitting it, he said.
In his effort to save the animal, the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled down into the gorge, the SP said.
A total of 37 passengers, belonging to the hills, were in the bus when the accident occurred leaving 23 of them injured. They have all been admitted to a hospital in Ranikhet where three persons are said to be in a serious condition, he said.
