A pall of grief has descended upon Uttarakhand following a devastating accident this morning where an 18-seater passenger bus plunged into the turbulent waters of the Alaknanda river in the Rudraprayag district. The tragic incident has claimed at least one life, with several individuals reported missing and a number of others injured. Search and rescue operations are currently underway in challenging conditions as authorities grapple with the aftermath of the crash.
The bus, reportedly carrying pilgrims and tourists on their way to the revered Badrinath shrine, veered off the road near Gholtir on the Badrinath Highway. Preliminary reports suggest that the driver lost control of the vehicle on a steep and sharply curved stretch of road, sending the bus tumbling over 200 feet into the fast-flowing Alaknanda. Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene, with some reporting that the bus might have swerved to avoid another vehicle before its fateful plunge.
Immediate response teams, comprising personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and district administration, swiftly launched a comprehensive rescue operation. Despite the rapid current of the river and the treacherous terrain, several individuals have been rescued and rushed to the district hospital in Rudraprayag for medical attention. Among the rescued, some were reportedly thrown clear of the bus before it became submerged. Two of the critically injured have been airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh for advanced care.
However, the grim reality is that a significant number of passengers remain unaccounted for. While initial reports indicated around 18 people were on board, the exact manifest is still being verified. Divers, rescue boats, and even drones have been deployed in the intensive search for survivors or to retrieve bodies from the river. The turbulent waters and low underwater visibility are severely hampering these efforts.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy, assuring that relief and rescue operations are being conducted on a war footing. He stated he is in constant contact with the local administration to monitor the situation. The Chief Minister has also announced financial compensation for the next of kin of the deceased and for those injured.
This latest accident casts a renewed spotlight on road safety in Uttarakhand’s hilly regions. Mountainous routes, characterized by sharp turns, narrow roads, and unpredictable weather conditions, are often prone to such mishaps. Authorities have emphasized the need for heightened caution among tourists and transport operators navigating these high-altitude routes. The State Transport Department has been directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the accident and consider an internal audit of other accident-prone routes in the state, with a focus on installing safety barriers and signage where needed.
The community has rallied together, offering support and assistance to the rescue teams and the families of the victims who have begun arriving at the site. As the search operations continue, the focus remains on locating the missing and providing support to those affected by this devastating incident. The coming hours are crucial as rescuers intensify their efforts, hoping for any sign of those still lost in the Alaknanda’s depths.