In Uttarakhand , 24 pilgrims died and 18 others were injured when a bus carrying them fell into the river Ganga at Kaudiyala near Vyasi in Tehri district, on the state Badrinath National highway today. As per report injured passengers were admitted to a Hospital in Rishikesh. However, two of the seriously injured have been referred to higher center in Dehradun. According to Additional District Magistrate Vansidhar Tiwari all the deceased were residents of Mandsaud district of Madhya Pradesh. They were coming back from Badrinath shrine. Uttarakhand Governor Dr. Aziz Qureshi and Chief Minister Mr. Bahuguna have expressed deep grief over the accident . Mr.Bahuguna has announced one lakh exgratia to the next of kin of the deceased and 50 thousands rupees to the seriously injured pilgrims