Rudraprayag, June 15: In a tragic accident, twelve tourists lost their lives, and fourteen others were injured when a tempo traveller skidded off the road and fell into the Alaknanda river on the Badrinath national highway in Uttarakhand on Saturday. The vehicle, carrying 26 people primarily from Delhi, rolled 500 meters down a gorge near Raitoli village around 11 am.
The tourists were traveling to Chopta when the accident occurred. Ten individuals died instantly, while two others succumbed to their injuries later in the hospital, as reported by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Rescue teams faced challenging terrain to reach the mangled vehicle. Remarkably, a woman was flung from the vehicle and was rescued from bushes 80 meters off the road.
Garhwal Inspector General of Police KS Nagnyal confirmed that the tourists were en route to Chopta. Following the accident, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered seven severely injured victims to be airlifted to AIIMS, Rishikesh via heli-ambulance. Six others are receiving treatment at the Rudraprayag district hospital.
The Chief Minister has directed the district magistrate to investigate the incident thoroughly. CM Dhami also visited AIIMS, Rishikesh to check on the injured and assured their families of all possible assistance from the state government. He emphasized the importance of enhancing safety measures to prevent such accidents in the future.
National leaders expressed their condolences. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar conveyed their sorrow over the loss of lives. The Prime Minister’s Office posted on social media expressing deep condolences and wishing the injured a speedy recovery. Additionally, PM Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that local administration and SDRF teams are actively engaged in relief and rescue operations, ensuring all possible help is provided to the injured. Vice President Dhankhar also expressed his pain over the tragic loss of lives in the accident.
This incident highlights the urgent need for improved safety measures on hilly roads in Uttarakhand to protect travelers and prevent future accidents.
Details of the Accident:
- The tempo traveller plunged 500 metres down a gorge.
- The tourists were en route to Chopta when the accident occurred.
- Ten victims died on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
Rescue Efforts:
- The Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) conducted a challenging rescue operation to reach the wrecked vehicle.
- A woman was flung from the vehicle and was rescued from bushes 80 metres off the road.
- Seven severely injured individuals were airlifted to AIIMS, Rishikesh by heli-ambulance on the Chief Minister’s orders, while six others received treatment at the Rudraprayag district hospital.
Response and Investigation:
- Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed the district magistrate to investigate the incident.
- The Chief Minister visited AIIMS, Rishikesh to check on the injured and ensured that their families would receive all possible assistance.
- CM Dhami has also instructed officials to implement measures to prevent such accidents in the future.
Condolences and Assistance:
- President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and other leaders expressed their sorrow over the loss of lives.
- Prime Minister Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
- President Murmu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also conveyed their condolences and support. Shah mentioned that local administration and SDRF teams are actively involved in relief and rescue operations.
