A sombre cloud loomed over Uttarakhand’s pilgrimage belt today after a private bus en route from Rishikesh to Badrinath veered off course and plummeted into the Alaknanda River near Gholtir in Rudraprayag district.
The incident has claimed at least one life, while ten passengers remain missing.
According to preliminary reports, the bus was carrying between 15 and 18 passengers when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle during the uphill climb. Officials from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police personnel, and local residents swiftly launched rescue operations, managing to save seven individuals. Six of the rescued are currently receiving treatment at the district hospital.
Nilesh Anand Bharne, spokesperson for the Uttarakhand Police Headquarters, confirmed, “The bus lost control and fell into the river. As per current information, 18 people were on board.” He added that rescue efforts are ongoing, with divers and rescue boats mobilised to search for the missing.
The treacherous mountain roads leading to Badrinath—one of the holiest Char Dham pilgrimage sites—are known for their narrow, winding paths. Safety concerns have long been raised about the lack of robust barricades and adequate signage along these risky routes.
This tragedy follows another mishap earlier today, where a double-decker bus skidded off the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, injuring several.
The Rudraprayag accident brings renewed focus on road safety and infrastructure concerns along India’s pilgrimage corridors, especially during the monsoon season.
