6 Pilgrims dead, 25 seriously injured in Mussoorie bus accident

Eyewitness report:

May 24, 2009

At least six pilgrims from Gujarat were killed and over 25 injured when a pvt tourist bus no GJ-30216.fell into 150 ft deep gorge near Bhatta Falls on 7 km from Mussoorie town on the Dehradun Highway. It was a 52 seated bus plying on the hills against the norms. The victims were from Disst. Amareli in Gujarat and most of them were govt primary teachers on chardham Yatra.They were traveling from Haridwar when the fateful accident happened near Bhatt Falls. The incident occurred at about 6.15 AM when the bus presumably was on its way towards Yamnotri on a Chardham Pilgimage.According to the eyewitness from Kyarkuli Village Chandan Singh was the first to see the Bus overturned thrice and got stuck between two Boulders into the gorge 150 ft below. He immediately called police officials from Mussoorie who immediately rushed to the site along with the Station officer MC Joshi.108 ambulance service was the first to arrive along with the fire tenders. The injured with the assistant of ITBP, Locals and police personals brought the injured and dead on the road after immense struggle and were rushed to the hospitals at Dehradun and Mussoorie. The 6 dead so far are, Bharat Bhai(35) the owner and conductor of the vehicle, Govind (30)  the driver of the bus,  Mansukh Chauhan alias Andy, his wife Manisha and a son Kawan aged 9 and the sixth persons name is yet to be rvealed..The injured are Rajesh s/o Lav Jee  Bhai r/o Gram Chalana Dist Amreli, Shilpa w/o Rajesh Gram Chlana Dist Amreli,Dharmesh s/o Devraj Gram Chalana Dist Amreli,Deepak,Yatra,Tripti,Dhruvi,Nikunj,Praveen,Ajeev, Gram Chalana Dist Amreli Mukesh,Shaj,Rekha,w/o Vipul,Sushila Ben  Gram Chalana Dist Amreli  Biraj,Gram Chalana Dist Amreli, Gram Chalana Dist Amreli,and few others have been referred to the Doon hospital.

According to CO Mussoorie Girish Chandra the driver was half -asleep and lost control at the bend between Bhatta and Mussoorie Jheel.Senior Administrative officials consisting of SDM Jharna Kamthan, SP City,ADM UC Kaparwal,SP traffic Nilesh Bharne reached the site to supervise rescue operations. The ITBP commandant along with 40 rock climbers and 30 jawans rescued the injured from the gorge. According to the doctors at Doon Hospital the toll in accident may rise. Meanwhile CM of the state BC Khanduri has announced compensation of Rs 50,000/- to the kins of deceased, Rs 20,000/- to seriously injured and Rs 5000/- to minor injuries.

The villagers were flabbergasted at such long bus which was finding difficult on the acute curves OF Mussoorie road.