NEW DELHI: At least five people have died and 15 others have been injured after a bus fell into a 150-foot-deep gorge near the West Bengal-Sikkim border on Saturday afternoon. The accident occurred around 3 pm between Andheri and Atal Setu, approximately one kilometer from the Rangpo border.
The bus, traveling from Siliguri to Gangtok, left National Highway 10 and plunged onto the bank of the Teesta River.
Police confirmed that one woman is among the deceased. The injured passengers were transported to a health center in Rangpo. “The identities of the deceased and the injured are being ascertained,” said police.
Authorities said that the death toll could rise due to the critical condition of some passengers. “The number of deaths is likely to increase as many injured passengers are in critical condition,” police added.
The bus, identified as ‘Quality’, operated a daily route between Siliguri and Gangtok, with some tourists among the passengers.
Police are currently investigating the cause of the accident.