Almora, Uttarakhand: A privately operated bus fell into a deep gorge in Almora district on Monday, killing at least 36 passengers and injuring several others.

While 22 people died on the spot, one succumbed to injuries while being taken to a hospital in Ramnagar, Almora's District Disaster Management Officer Vineet Pal told PTI.

The bus was going from Garhwal to Kumaon when the accident took place at Marchula in Almora, District Magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey said.

Visuals from the area pointed to the magnitude of the accident, the vehicle reduced to a mangled mess as it rolled down the forested, rocky slope and stopped just short of a stream. Rescuers could be seen working to pull out the passengers.

The injured were taken to the nearest hospital in Ramnagar.

Police and personnel of the National and State Disaster Response Forces rushed to the spot to launch a search and rescue operation, said District Magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey.

About 40 passengers were in the bus when it fell into the gorge, he added.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his condolences on social media, stating, "Very sad news has been received about the casualties in the bus accident that took place in Marchula of Almora district. The district administration has been instructed to conduct relief and rescue operations swiftly. The local administration and SDRF teams at the site of the incident are working swiftly to evacuate the injured and take them to the nearest health centre for treatment. Instructions have also been given to airlift the seriously injured passengers if required."