3 Dead, Several Hurt as Bus Plunges Into Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag

A tragic road accident occurred on Thursday in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district, where a bus carrying 20 people fell into the Alaknanda River, leading to the deaths of three passengers and injuring several others.

Bus Lost Control After Collision

According to officials, the bus was on its way to Badrinath from Rudraprayag when it collided with another vehicle near the Gholthir area. After the crash, the driver lost control, and the bus plunged into a 300-metre-deep gorge, landing in the river.

Twenty people were on board when the incident happened, according to Vinod Kumar Suman, the secretary for disaster management for Uttarakhand. “We have rescued eight passengers, and unfortunately, three people have died. Search for others is still going on,” he said.

Rescue Efforts in Full Swing

Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), as well as local police, fire departments, and revenue departments, rushed to the spot shortly after the incident. Additionally, locals also helped the teams for early rescue operations.

Soon after the incident, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, along with local police, fire services, and revenue department officials, rushed to the scene. Local residents also played a crucial role in the early rescue efforts.

Some passengers reportedly managed to jump out of the bus before it went over the edge. After being pulled out of the gorge, these people were taken to Rudraprayag's District Hospital for medical treatment.

Given the river’s strong current, the SDRF expanded the search area up to the Srinagar Garhwal dam, which lies around 40 kilometres downstream, fearing that more passengers might have been swept away.

Chief Minister Offers Condolences

Pushkar Singh Dhami, the chief minister of Uttarakhand, expressed deep sadness over the incident. In a post on social media, he wrote, “The news of a tempo traveller falling into the river in Rudraprayag is heartbreaking. Relief work is being carried out at full speed. I am constantly in touch with local authorities. I pray for the safety of everyone involved.”