2 Dead, 10 Missing After Bus Carrying Char Dham Pilgrims Falls into Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand
Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand | June 27, 2025: At least two people died and ten others are missing after a bus carrying pilgrims on the Char Dham Yatra plunged into the Alaknanda river in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district on Thursday morning.
The bus, a 31-seater vehicle (UK08 PA 7444), was en route to Badrinath Dham from Rudraprayag when it lost control and skidded off the road near the Gholtir area, crashing into the river below. The vehicle was reportedly carrying 20 passengers, including pilgrims from Udaipur (Rajasthan) and Gujarat, as well as the driver.
According to police officials, some passengers were thrown out of the bus due to the impact and were rescued with the help of residents and rescue teams. The injured were taken to the district hospital in Rudraprayag.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched immediate rescue operations around 8 AM, dispatching teams from Agastyamuni, Ratoora, and Gauchar police stations. So far, seven people—including two women, two children, and three men—have been rescued. One deceased body has been recovered, and search efforts continue for the remaining missing persons.
“The river is in full flow today, which is making the rescue operation extremely challenging,” said SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi. “Police, SDRF, and local administration teams are jointly carrying out relief work on-site.”
The identities of the deceased are yet to be officially confirmed.
The accident comes days after a tragic helicopter crash near Kedarnath on June 15, which claimed seven lives, raising serious concerns over pilgrimage safety during monsoon.
With helicopter services suspended due to weather conditions and ongoing reports of landslides and shooting stones in high-altitude areas, authorities are urging pilgrims and tour operators to exercise caution and stay updated with official advisories.
Rescue operations are continuing, and updates are awaited from the Uttarakhand state disaster management officials.
