A Bus Plunges into the Alaknanda River in Rudraprayag Uttarakhand Killing 3 People and Injuring 7 More
Rescue Operations Intensify Along Alaknanda River After Rudraprayag Bus Tragedy
Badrinath Pilgrims Swept into Alaknanda River as Bus Plunges Off Mountain Road
In a tragic event an 18-seater tempo traveler crashed into the Alaknanda River in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand killing three people and injuring at least seven more. The accident happened close to Gholtir while the car was transporting pilgrims from Udaipur Rajasthan to the holy Badrinath temple.
The car reportedly lost control while traveling a challenging section of road and fell into the river according to Police Headquarters. Inspector General Nilesh Anand Bharane attested to the car losing control prior to the deadly plunge.
Searches are Underway to Find the Missing Passengers
According to preliminary reports the number of passengers on board was 17. At least ten people are still unaccounted for while seven people have been rescued thus far. Search and rescue efforts were immediately initiated by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in coordination with local law enforcement agencies. Police officers from the Agastyamuni Ratuda and Gochar stations converged on the scene to offer assistance however the strong currents in the river and the hazardous terrain have made rescue operations extremely difficult.
“Police administration and SDRF teams are actively working on the ground to recover the missing and ensure medical treatment for the injured” said Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey.
The Chief Minister is Deeply Saddened
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami responded quickly to the tragic event by expressing his condolences and the gravity of the state’s response on social media. He wrote the following in a post on X.
जनपद रुद्रप्रयाग में एक टेंपो ट्रैवलर के नदी में गिरने का समाचार अत्यंत दुःखद है। SDRF सहित अन्य बचाव दलों द्वारा युद्ध स्तर पर राहत एवं बचाव कार्य किया जा रहा है।
इस संबंध में निरंतर स्थानीय प्रशासन से संपर्क में हूं। ईश्वर से सभी के सकुशल होने की प्रार्थना करता हूं।
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) June 26, 2025
The public was also reassured by the chief minister that he keeps close tabs on rescue efforts and maintains constant communication with local authorities.
Medical Emergency Response and Hospitalization
The injured passengers were taken right away to local hospitals for medical attention as part of the prompt response. Although the precise health status of each victim has not yet been made public authorities have verified that all required medical attention is being given.
At Rudraprayag and other surrounding facilities medical staff are working around the clock to stabilize the injured, some of whom suffered critical injuries as a result of the impact force and the challenging extraction procedure.
Attempts at Rescue are Hampered by Rough Terrain
Rescue crews have faced many difficulties in the Rudraprayag region which is renowned for its beautiful but untamed scenery. Due to the recent monsoon activity the Alaknanda River has swelled and is flowing rapidly and turbulently making it risky for search teams and drivers to carry out uninterrupted operations.
Along the riverbanks search lights, boats and ropes have been set up to help find the remaining passengers. In order to help find wreckage or indications of life downstream drone surveillance is also being explored.
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An Unsettling Reminder of the Dangers of Traveling in the Himalayas
This incident highlights the inherent dangers of traveling through the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand particularly in regions with winding narrow roads and during erratic weather. Even though thousands of pilgrims visit the shrines of Char Dham every year there is still an urgent need for more stringent transportation safety regulations and ongoing oversight.
To ascertain whether any carelessness or mechanical malfunction caused the loss of control authorities are likely to carry out a comprehensive investigation. Families of the victims anxiously await updates as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
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