Uttarakhand News: At least 12 people were killed and 14 others were injured after a tempo traveller, with more than 26 passengers onboard, fell into a deep gorge on the Rishikesh- Badrinath highway in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag on Saturday, said State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) commandant Manikant Mishra. Seven injured have been airlifted and sent to AIIMS Rishikesh for further treatment.
Manikant Mishra said the tempo traveller departed from Delhi around 11 pm on Friday and was on its way to Chopta, as quoted by an HT report. Rescue operations are being carried out by the SDRF and police teams.
"Rudraprayag SP is on the spot. The tempo traveller was coming from Noida (UP) towards Rudraprayag. It fell into a 150-200 metre deep gorge. 7 bodies have been recovered. 9 people were rushed to the hospital during which 1 of them died. The driver is very critically injured. So, it is not clear how many people were onboard the vehicle. Police, SDRF and local people are engaged in rescue operations. Rescue operation is underway," said IG Garhwal, Karan Singh Nagnyal, as quoted by news agency ANI.
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Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered an investigation into the matter. Taking to X, he wrote, “Very sad news was received about a tempo traveller accident in Rudraprayag district. The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. The injured have been sent to the nearest medical centre for treatment. The district magistrate has been ordered to investigate the incident.”
“I pray to God to grant the souls of the departed a place in his feet and provide strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense pain. I pray to Baba Kedar for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he added.
Uttarkashi Bus Accident
In another incident on June 11, a bus of pilgrims returning from Gangotri Dham fell into a ditch about 25 meters deep and got stuck with the support of a tree. One woman died, and around 26 pilgrims were injured in the accident, reported jagran.com.
The injured were taken to the District Hospital in Uttarkashi for treatment. A total of 27 pilgrims were in the bus, and most are said to be from Nainital, Haldwani. A truck carrying Kanwar pilgrims met with an accident at this place in 2010, in which 27 Kanwar pilgrims died, and in 2023, a pilgrim bus also met with an accident in which 7 pilgrims died.
On hearing about the bus accident, the traders of Gangnani reached for rescue. Most of the injured were evacuated by local residents of Gangnani. District Magistrate Dr. Merban Singh Bisht also alerted the search, rescue, and health department officials. Police, PRD, and SDRF teams also rescued the seriously injured.
The rescue team took 19 injured people to the road in a span of about an hour, and the injured were sent to the district hospital in the vehicles of other pilgrims returning from Gangotri. While some injured were sent by 108 ambulances.