Dehradun, September 4
More than 16 bus passengers were feared dead and 32 others injured, some of them seriously, when a private bus they were travelling in fell into the Tons river in the hilly Tyuni tehsil of Dehradun district today.

Several other bus passengers are reportedly missing as the river was in spate.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who went to the accident site, has ordered a magisterial probe into the whole matter.

According to information provided by the disaster management department, the accident occurred at 9:30 am when the bus carrying about 50 to 60 passengers was coming to Dehradun from the Tyuni area.

The driver of the bus, while reportedly negotiating a turn, lost control and the bus fell into the river which was swollen due to heavy rain in the area. Following the accidents, local villagers started the rescue work as the disaster management and administration teams reportedly reached one hour late to the spot after being informed.

Though sources confirmed that 16 bodies had been fished out, SDM (Chakrauta) Hansa Dutt Pande confirmed the toll at 12 till the report was filed.