DEHRADUN: As many as 26 pilgrims from Panna, Madya Pradesh were killed, while four other injured when the bus they were traveling in fell into a gorge at Damta in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand in later evening hours Sunday.
According to DGP Uttarakhand Ashok Kumar, the police and NDRF team had launched the rescue operation and as many as 22 dead bodies were recovered from the site of the accident. Seven injured were rushed to the hospital for treatment but four more died at the hospital.
The death toll reached to 26 from 15 last night after seven more bodies were recovered while four among injured succummed at the hospital later.
The ill-fated accident has come as a first major tragedy involving pilgrims after the state opened the Char Dham Yatra this year to pilgrims and tourists.
Ashok Kumar said that as many as 30 pilgrims were traveling in the ill-fated bus and they were their ways to Gangotri on the highway.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his grief over the accident and his sympathies with the bereaved families.
He announced Rs 5 lakh for those killed and Rs 50000 for the injured.
Prime Minister Has also announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh to the killed and Rs 50000 to injured in the accident.
He said that they have set up the control room to monitor the situation.
The bodies would be lifted by air to Panna MP for last rites.
The police said that the cause of the accident was being investigated.