Four people, including a woman and a child, were killed and 23 others injured when a roadways bus fell into a 1,500-foot gorge in Bhimtal’s Saldi area on Wednesday.

The bus, carrying 27 passengers including the driver and conductor, was traveling from Pithoragarh when the accident occurred, according to Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat.

The victims were identified as Khadak Singh, 55; his wife, Ganga Dhami, 48; Surendra Singh Dharmasattu, 58; and Daksh Pant, 6. They were from Dharchula, Pithoragarh, and Berinag, officials said.

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“The locals were the first to learn about the incident as is often the case. Even I came to know about it from locals,” Rawat said, PTI reported.

Bhowali Circle Officer Sumit Pandey said the bus plunged into the gorge, making rescue operations challenging. Fire department and State Disaster Response Force teams used ropes to pull the injured and deceased from the steep ravine.

The injured were initially taken to the Community Health Centre in Bhimtal before being referred to higher medical facilities. While most of the injured are stable in the general ward, some are in critical condition and may require ICU care, officials said.

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Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the accident and directed the district administration to expedite rescue and relief operations. He announced Rs 10 lakh in financial assistance for the families of those killed, with Rs 5 lakh from the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation, Rs 2 lakh from the Road Safety Fund, and Rs 3 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Discretionary Fund.

Those seriously injured will receive Rs 3 lakh each, while individuals with minor injuries will get between Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000.

Rescue efforts were supported by local residents, but the terrain posed significant challenges, Pandey said. Despite the difficulties, authorities ensured that all passengers were accounted for and received immediate medical attention.