14 die, 12 injured as Tempo Traveller falls into river Alaknanda near Rudraprayag

Rudraprayag/Dehradun, 15 Jun: At least 14 passengers died on the spot today as the Tempo Traveller they were travelling in fell into river Alaknanda along Badrinath Highway around 5 kilometres ahead of Rudraprayag. 12 others are seriously injured and many of them have been airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed shock at the news of death of 13 pilgrims and has also ordered an inquiry into the accident. Many of those injured are fighting for their lives as their condition is stated to be serious. Pictures and videos of the rescue operation from the accident site are heart wrenching. Apparently, the driver had dozed off for a while when this accident occurred.

As per the reports received, a Tempo–Traveller slipped from the road and fell into the Alaknanda river. 14 people died in this horrific accident while 12 others were seriously injured. There were 26 passengers including the driver in the Tempo Traveller. It is being told that 7 people injured in the accident have been airlifted and admitted to AIIMS Rishikesh, while 9 people are admitted to Rudraprayag District Hospital. 4 of those injured later succumbed to injuries, two of them dying in District Hospital of Rudraprayag while the two others died at AIIMS Rishikesh.

Rudraprayag Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said that the Tempo Traveller was coming from Delhi, and the passengers were going to Badrinath. There were 26 people in this vehicle, 16 people have been rescued but three of them later succumbed to injuries. He said that a rescue operation is also being carried out in the river, it is being told that a boy had jumped into the river, he has not been found yet. Rajwar said that some have suffered serious head injuries and some have suffered serious injuries in hands and legs.

The Tempo Traveller had left from Delhi at night with 26 passengers. This Tempo Traveller fell into Alaknanda river near Raitoli on the Badrinath Highway, five kilometres ahead of Rudraprayag city. The cause of the accident is being stated to be the driver dozing off. Possibly the vehicle was also at a high speed, which broke the parapet and fell 250 metres down. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed grief over the vehicle accident in Rudraprayag district. The Chief Minister has prayed to God for the peace of the souls of the deceased in this accident and to provide patience to the bereaved family members. He has also wished for the recovery of the people injured in the accident.

There were 26 people in the vehicle, including three drivers. Seven injured were taken to AIIMS by helicopter. Others were admitted to the Rudraprayag District Hospital. As soon as the vehicle fell, there was a lot of screaming among the passengers. Passengers kept screaming for help.

As soon as the news of the accident was received, the police administration, District Disaster Management, DDRF and other teams reached the spot and began the rescue work on the spot. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also ordered an inquiry into the reasons behind the accident. The Chief Minister has ordered the District Magistrate Rudraprayag to investigate the incident. He has also wished for the recovery of the people injured in the accident. The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations. The injured have been sent to the nearest medical centre for treatment. On the instructions of the Chief Minister, the seriously injured passengers have been airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. Dhami said that very painful news of the Tempo Traveler accident has been received. The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations.

It remains a mystery why the local administration can’t prevent such accident by ensuring that such journeys are taken up with mandatory breaks and rest periods. This Tempo Traveller had started late evening yesterday from Delhi with apparently only one driver and as a result of continuous driving, he was tired and sleepy by morning and that is when this accident occurred. The tour operators also need to be taken to task for forcing their drivers to drive continuously that too in the hills due to their greed and then causing death of so many passengers on the way. There is a need of mandatory SOPs to be implemented for all the vehicles private or commercial which also includes mandatory breaks and rest period along the way, keeping safety of the passengers and the drivers in view.