Bus falls into gorge near Coonoor, 9 dead; PM Modi announces 2 lakh ex-gratia

Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased.

At least nine people were killed after a bus fell into a gorge near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district on Saturday. Expressing anguish over the deaths, Prime Minister Narendra Sunday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

“Pained by the loss of lives due to a bus accident near Coonoor in Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Those injured would be given Rs 50,000: PM @narendramodi,” the PM’s office posted on X (formerly Twitter).

According to news agency PTI, the tourist bus was en route Tenkasi, when it fell into a gorge and toppled after the driver lost control of the vehicle, killing eight people and leaving others injured. The toll went up to nine with the death of one more woman on Sunday.

There were 55 passengers on board the bus, officials told news agency ANI. At least 35 people who were injured were sent to the Coonoor government hospital for treatment, officials said.

The Nilgiris district administration also issued emergency helpline numbers for citizens to seek information about the accident — 1077, 0423-2450034, and 9443763207.