Prime Minister Modi condoles Uttarakhand accident victims

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed grief over the death of 45 people who were killed after a bus fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand`s Pauri Garhwal district.

"Extremely saddened by the bus accident in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families," the Prime Minister`s Office said in a tweet.

"I pray the injured recover at the earliest. Rescue operations are underway and authorities are providing all possible assistance at the accident site."

At least 45 people were killed after a bus fell into a 60-metre gorge in Uttarakhand at about 9 am, near the Queens Bridge on the Pipli-Bhaun road when the driver lost control of the 28-seater bus which was headed to Ramnagar from Bhaun.

Eight injured people were rushed to nearby medical facilities. Of the injured, four were in "very critical" condition.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand chief minister  Trivendra Singh Rawat announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the dead. Treatment of injured will be taken care of by the government, appropriate compensation will also be given to the injured, he added.

A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the accident, he further said.