Tuesday, May 17 2005 17:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dehra Dun: At least 37 people, including two women, were killed and more than 25 others injured, when an overcrowded bus carrying a marriage party fell into a ditch at Nagarasu area in Rudraprayad district of Uttaranchal today (May 17, 2005), police said.

The bus was going to Maithani area in Chamoli district from Srinagar (Garhwal) when it skidded off the road rolling down to a 150 meter-deep ditch, Superintendent of Police Pushkar Singh Sailal said.

Twenty-eight people, including two women, died on the spot while nine others succumbed to their injuries in hospitals, he said.

The injured have been admitted to Srinagar and Karanprayag hospitals where condition of some of them is stated to be serious. The groom escaped unhurt as he was travelling in a car, Sailal said.

He said that all the bodies have been recovered and are being taken to nearby Gochar hospital where post-mortem would be conducted.

Uttaranchal Chief Minister N D Tiwari, who is away in New Delhi, has expressed grief over the accident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 to next of kin of the deceased and Rs 15,000 to the injured.

A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the accident, the reasons for which are still not known.