Two Dead, Ten Missing as Pilgrim Vehicle Plunges into Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand
A tempo traveller carrying pilgrims to Badrinath Dham fell into the Alaknanda river in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district. At least two people were killed, eight injured, and ten others remain missing. The vehicle, with 20 people on board from Udaipur, Rajasthan, veered off the road into a deep gorge. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are conducting search and rescue operations.
Unpacked:
The Char Dham Yatra is a major Hindu pilgrimage circuit that includes four sacred sites: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. Pilgrims visit Badrinath Dham to seek blessings and spiritual merit, as it is considered one of the holiest temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the Himalayas.
Accidents and health-related casualties are not uncommon during the Char Dham Yatra. In the first month of the 2025 yatra, 73 casualties were reported, with 65 due to health issues and 8 from accidents. The challenging terrain and weather contribute to such incidents.
State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are conducting search and rescue operations. Local residents and rescue teams managed to save some passengers, and the injured were sent to the district hospital. Search efforts are ongoing for the ten missing pilgrims.
Frequent accidents are attributed to challenging mountainous terrain, narrow roads, unpredictable weather, and landslides. Heavy rainfall can trigger landslides, and vehicles may lose control on steep, winding roads, increasing the risk for pilgrims.