Uttarakhand bus accident: 30 passengers saved by tree

Approximately 30 passengers escaped a major tragedy in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand after their bus veered off a road and slid toward a deep gorge. The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 21, on the Kotdwara–Pauri highway near the Bandalikal area.

The driver, Ashok Mamgain, reported that a sudden pressure pipe failure caused the vehicle to lose control. Due to the steep incline of the road, the Garhwal Motor Owners Union bus began rolling backward and eventually slid off the roadway toward a steep slope.

A large pine tree acted as a natural barrier, striking the vehicle and halting its descent before it could fall into the abyss. The bus remained precariously perched on the hillside, preventing a fatal plunge for all those on board.