Death toll in Uttarkashi bus accident rises to 26, IAF to take bodies to MP

Twentysix pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh died and three were critically injured on Sunday evening when the bus in which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge en route to the Yamunotri temple in Uttarkashi districtMadhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday informed that Indian Air Force IAF aircraft has been arranged to take the bodies of pilgrims killed in the bus accident in Uttarakhands Uttarkashi district to Madhya PradeshThe accident took place near Rikhavu khadd on the way to the Himalayan shrine around two kilometres from Damta on NH94 Uttarkashi District Disaster Management Officer Devendra Patwal saidThe pilgrims were from Panna district in Madhya Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary Radha Raturi saidBesides the driver and the helper there were 28 passengers on the busSeventeen bodies have been recovered so far and a search is on for the rest Patwal saidThree people injured in the accident have been admitted to the Community Health Centre in DamtaPolice and SDRF teams have been rushed to the spot besides ambulances from Badkot Nagaon and NainbaghChief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the disaster control room at the secretariat immediately after being informed about the accident He asked the district magistrate of Uttarkashi to speed up relief and rescue operationsOfficials concerned have been instructed to investigate the accident May God grant the departed souls a place at his feet and strength to their family members to bear the pain Also I pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured Dhami said in a tweet in HindiMadhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan also spoke to Dhami for an update on the situationChouhan said he along with state minister Bijendra Pratap Singh DGP Sudhir Saxena Additional Chief Secretary Home Rajesh Rajora and other officials were leaving for Dehradun from BhopalI have talked to the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Dhami ji over the phone and requested him to ensure adequate arrangements for the treatment of the injured he said in a tweetI and my team are in constant touch with the Uttarakhand government and local district administration The arrangements are being made to treat the injured and bring the bodies to Madhya Pradesh Chouhan saidChouhan said a team of his government from Delhi has already left for Uttarakhand to oversee the arrangements to shift the bodies to Madhya Pradesh and ensure the medical treatment of the injuredHe announced that Rs 5 lakh each would be given to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50000 to the injured persons Medical treatment of the injured is our priority Chouhan addedPrime Minister Narendra Modi President Ram Nath Kovind and Uttarakhand Governor Gurmit Singh expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accidentThe news of the bus accident in Uttarakhand is very painful I express my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones Under the supervision of the state government the local administration is engaged in all possible assistance on the spot the Prime Ministers Office said quoting ModiThe prime minister has announced an exgratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the PMNRF for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the accident in Uttarakhand The injured would be given Rs 50000 each it addedPresident Kovind expressed his condolences to the families of the deceasedI feel pained by the sad news of the death of people in a bus accident in Uttarakhand he said in a tweet in HindiUnion Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Dhami after the accident and said local rescue teams were engaged in the rescue operation while National Disaster Response Force NDRF personnel would also reach the spot shortlyIt is very sad to hear about the bus of devotees falling into a gorge in Uttarakhand I have spoken to Chief Minister pushkardhami on this Local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in rescue work and the injured are being taken to a nearby hospital for treatment NDRF is also reaching there soon Shah said in a tweet in HindiThe Himalayan shrines of Yamunotri Badrinath Kedarnath and Gangotri are commonly known as Char DhamThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever