44 KILLED AFTER BUS FALLS INTO GORGE IN UTTARAKHAND

At least 44 passengers were killed after a bus they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Paudi Garhwal district of Uttarakhand on Sunday morning, says an NDTV report. Reportedly, three people have been critically injured.

The tragedy took place on the Pipali-Bhoan motorway in the district's Nainidanda block. The minibus carrying about 45 passengers was headed for Ramnagar from Bhoan.

The police and a team of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) are carrying out rescue operations at the place. The injured have been rushed to a hospital. The death is expected to rise.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat offered condolences to the families of the deceased.