The vehicle fell into the Alaknanda River
New Delhi:
At least 14 people were killed after a tempo traveller carrying 23 passengers fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand on Saturday, officials said.
The accident took place on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway near Raitoli in the Rudraprayag district.
The minibus fell into the Alaknanda River and teams of the State Disaster Response Force and police are currently engaged in rescue operations, officials said.
People who were standing on the roadside have sustained injuries in the accident, sources said.
President Droupadi Murmu expressed her condolences to the families of those who died and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The news of the death of several people in a road accident in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand is sad. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.
रुद्रप्रयाग, उत्तराखंड में एक सड़क दुर्घटना में अनेक लोगों की मृत्यु होने का समाचार दुखद है। मैं शोक संतप्त परिवारजनों के प्रति गहन संवेदना व्यक्त करती हूं और घायल हुए लोगों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करती हूं।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 15, 2024
The Prime Minister’s Office announced an aid of Rs 2 lakh to the families of those who died and Rs 50,000 compensation to the injured.
The PMO, quoting Prime Minister Modi said, “The road accident in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is engaged in all possible help to the victims”
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodihttps://t.co/LHdaTBVZBr
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2024
Calling the incident “very sad news”, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the district magistrate has been ordered to investigate the accident.
“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 posted in Hindi on X, formerly Twitter.
जनपद रुद्रप्रयाग में टेम्पो ट्रैवलर के दुर्घटनाग्रस्त होने का अत्यंत पीड़ादायक समाचार प्राप्त हुआ। स्थानीय प्रशासन व SDRF की टीमें राहत एवं बचाव कार्यों में जुटी हुई है। घायलों को नज़दीकी चिकित्सा केंद्र पर उपचार हेतु भेज दिया गया है। ज़िलाधिकारी को घटना की जाँच के आदेश दे दिए…
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) June 15, 2024
Injured people are now being airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh, officials said.