In Uttarkashi tragedy, probe announced; Dhami, Chouhan meet affected families

Uttarkashi bus tragedy killed 26 people, and PM Modi, Amit Shah, among others, condoled the deaths.

A magisterial probe has been announced by Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami a day after a bus accident in the Uttarkashi district killed 26 people.  Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the Uttarakhand chief minister on Monday morning visited the site of the bus accident. Both the leaders also met the families of those who have died.

Uttarkashi accident: Madhya Pradesh Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Uttarakhand Chief minister Pushkar Dhami meet affected families. 

“The bus driver told us that accident happened due to steering wheel failure... But still we have ordered a magisterial-level probe into the incident,” Dhami was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. 

In a series of tweets, the Madhya Pradesh chief minister gave updates. “Visited the site of last night's heart-rending bus accident in Damta, Uttarkashi, along with Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri @pushkardhami ji. I pray to God to grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved family members and speedy recovery of the injured," he tweeted in Hindi. 

"Meeting the relatives of Panna's brothers and sisters who were injured in the accident in Uttarakhand and consoled them. Do not consider yourself alone in this time of sorrow. We cannot bring back those who have gone, but we can share your sorrow. I and the entire Madhya Pradesh are with the bereaved families," Chouhan said in another post.

A bus with 30 people - including 28 pilgrims - to Yamunotri fell into a 250-meter-deep gorge on Sunday evening around 7 pm, officials said, adding that it was a part of 30 pilgrim buses from Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district. 

“Twenty-five of the bodies are being sent to Dehradun from where they will be sent to Madhya Pradesh. The body of the bus helper, who was from Almora, has been kept at the local community health centre. His family is coming to take the body,” District disaster management officer (Uttarkashi) Devendra Patwal said.

The rescue operations were carried out in strenuous conditions, according to officials.