Dehradun/IBNS: At least 36 people have been killed after a 45-seater passenger bus fell into a 200-meter gorge in Uttarakhand's Almora district on Monday morning, media reports said.

The bus was travelling overnight from Pauri in Garhwal to Ramnagar in Kumaon.

The accident occurred at around 7:25 am.

Locals were the first respondents and they rushed to the spot to start with the rescue operations.

A rescue operation by the State Disaster Response Force is underway.

The seriously injured were airlifted to AIIMS, informed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Dhami also wrote on X, "We express our deepest condolences to the families of the passengers who lost their lives in the heartbreaking bus accident in Marchula of Almora district. We stand with them in this hour of grief. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured and for the souls of the departed to rest in His feet.

"Relief amount of ₹ 4 lakh will be provided to the families of the deceased and ₹ 1 lakh to the injured. Commissioner Kumaon Division has been directed to investigate the incident."