Tragic Almora Bus Accident Claims 36 Lives, 3-Year-Old Survivor Calls for Parents | Dehradun News

ALMORA: In the aftermath of the tragedy in Almora, where a bus plunged into a gorge, a heartbreaking scene unfolded at Ramnagar Hospital in Nainital.
A three-year-old girl, Shivani, who survived the horrific accident, was brought in by an ambulance as she called out for her parents—unaware that they would never answer her again. Her mother, Charu (34), and father, Manoj Rawat (35), were among the 36 people who died when the bus fell into a 200m deep gorge in Almora’s Marchula.

A local from Sult, Almora, Narayan Singh Rawat, described the horror of the site where the bus fell, with a voice heavy with emotion and said, “The entire region is in mourning.” He added, “When I reached the site, it was like a nightmare come to life. The ravine was filled with bodies—young and old, men, women, and children—all taken so suddenly. It was hard to even look.” Villagers then began the task of rescuing survivors and recovering the bodies of those who died, he said.
As Shivani’s cries filled the hospital corridors, her grandfather, Darshan Singh (62), stood nearby, barely able to support himself as he struggled with the shock of losing both his son and daughter-in-law. Onlookers including the doctors and nurses, held back tears as they witnessed the grief unfolding before them.
Doctors said Shivani’s small body bears severe injuries—stitches on her head, broken ribs, and internal bleeding in her lungs. Due to her critical condition, she was immediately airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh, where specialists are working to save her life.
Shivani had been living with her parents in Ramnagar. They had spent the Diwali holiday at her grandparents’ home in Sirkhet, cherishing a time filled with warmth and togetherness that now feels painfully distant. That warmth was shattered on Monday morning when their journey home turned deadly.
The crash also claimed the lives of five-year-old Aarav and his father, Deepak (37) who were on their way to Ramnagar. Their journey, marked by quiet moments between father and son, was cut tragically short.
Sult tehsildar Abid Ali said, “Post-mortems of 28 victims were conducted at the accident site in Marchula, and of the remaining eight at Ramnagar Govt Hospital. Families received the bodies of their loved ones after post-mortems, and efforts are underway to provide financial support to the families of both the deceased and the injured.”