M A I N   N E W S

45 of marriage party die in mishap

ALMORA (UP), April 28 (PTI) — Fortyfive persons were killed and 15 injured when a bus, carrying a marriage party, fell into a 250-metre-deep gorge on the Ramnagar-Shashikhal road, about 140 km from here, the police here said today.

The accident occurred yesterday when the driver of the overcrowded bus coming from Shashikhal lost control of the vehicle and it skidded off the road and fell into the gorge. While 44 persons died on the spot, another succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

The Army and paramilitary personnel engaged in relief and rescue operations have extracted the bodies from the gorge, the police said, adding that the injured have been admitted to Ramnagar hospital.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta has expressed grief over the tragedy. A report quoting district authorities said there were 60 to 62 persons aboard the bus owned by a private company.

The bride and bridegroom were safe as they were travelling in a car. ADM Avnendra Singh, who had reached the spot, said cranes had been brought from Ramnagar and Ranikhet for lifting bodies from the gorge. Teams of doctors have reached the accident site from Ranikhet.