The tourists were on the way to Chopta when the accident happened at around 11.30 am near Raitoli village. The vehicle carrying 26 people rolled down a 200-metre gorge and into the river.
Fourteen tourists were killed and 12 injured when a tempo traveller skidded off the road and fell into Alaknanda River on the Badrinath National Highway here in Uttarakhand on Saturday, officials said.
About The Tragic Accident
The tourists were on the way to Chopta when the accident happened at around 11.30 am near Raitoli village. The vehicle carrying 26 people rolled down a 200-metre gorge and into the river, they said.
Ten people died on the spot while four others succumbed later in hospitals, according to the district administration.
🚨 Uttarakhand: 8 Killed As Tempo Falls Into Gorge On Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway …..!!#Accident pic.twitter.com/9DRHvEiq1O
— VISHAL SINGH (@Vishalk09340276) June 15, 2024
#WATCH | Rudraprayag Tempo Traveller accident: A total of 7 injured have been shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh.
As per IG Garhwal, 10 people have died in the accident. pic.twitter.com/rXWaGPUr4i
— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2024
#WATCH | Rudraprayag Tempo Traveller accident: AIIMS Rishikesh Director, Dr Meenu Singh says, “…7 patients were brought to AIIMS, 2 of them were brought dead – 2 patients are very serious…3 patients are stable…” pic.twitter.com/G2bkamjqEo
— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2024
Two persons were declared dead at Rudraprayag district hospital while two were declared brought dead at AIIMS, Rishikesh. Three of the dead are yet to be identified, according to hospital authorities.
The driver of the tempo traveller, Karan Singh, is also among the dead. Victims of the accident were residents of Noida, Mathura, Jhansi of Uttar Pradesh, Haldwani of Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana.
Rescue and relief personnel had to navigate extremely adverse terrain to reach the badly mangled vehicle.
Statements Of Senior Officials
Senior officers, including District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar, and Superintendent of Police Vishakha Ashok Bhadane monitored the rescue and relief operations being carried out by the police and Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
A woman was flung from the vehicle due to the accident but was later rescued from the bushes around 80 metres off the road, the SDRF said.
Garhwal Inspector General of Police K S Nagnyal said the vehicle was carrying the tourists to Chopta.
On Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s instructions, seven persons seriously injured in the accident were taken to AIIMS, Rishikesh through a heli-ambulance, while six others were admitted to the Rudraprayag district hospital, he said.
A health bulletin issued by AIIMS-Rishikesh said that out of the seven injured brought to the hospital, two had died before reaching the facility. Trauma surgeon of AIIMS, Rishikesh, Dr Ruby Kataria said a team of doctors from the trauma department is engaged in the treatment of five other injured.
The injured have suffered deep injuries in many parts of their bodies and almost all of them are in critical condition, the doctor said.
The chief minister has directed the district magistrate to investigate the incident, officials said.
Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami Reaches Hospital
Dhami later reached AIIMS, Rishikesh enquired about the condition of the injured and urged doctors to provide necessary treatment to them.
The families of the injured have been contacted and they were assured of all possible help from the state government, the CM said. Officials have also been directed to ensure effective control of such accidents in the state, he said.