Chamoli, June 11 -- A major road accident was narrowly averted on Thursday on the Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli district after a bus ferrying pilgrims suffered a sudden brake failure near Benakuli. The bus, carrying devotees returning to Haridwar after darshan at Badrinath Dham, went out of control but was ultimately stopped when it collided with a large roadside boulder, preventing it from falling into a deep gorge.

According to administrative officials, the bus was transporting pilgrims from Jharkhand who had completed their religious journey to the Himalayan shrine. The incident occurred when the vehicle was descending a stretch near Benakuli, during which the driver reportedly lost control following a sudden brake failure. Pa...