A dawn pilgrimage turned tragic on Thursday when a private bus carrying 18 people from Rishikesh to Badrinath veered off the mountain route near Gholtir and plunged roughly 60 meters into the rain-swollen Alaknanda River. According to local officials, one passenger has died, seven have been rescued with injuries, and ten are still missing.
According to police spokeswoman IG Nilesh Anand Bharane, the driver "lost control while climbing a steep section," causing the vehicle to plunge into the swift-moving water. The pre-monsoon rains have caused the river to swell, making operations more challenging. Within minutes, teams from the State Disaster Response Force, district police, and tax administration began descending down the gorge while divers searched downstream. Prior to being transferred to the Rudraprayag district hospital, the injured were stabilized at a medical post in the neighboring town of Silli. Along boulder-dotted banks, dozens of people joined rescuers and formed human chains to search for survivors and collect debris.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed condolences and directed officials to “deploy every available resource until the last missing pilgrim is found.” Helicopter support is available if the water levels fall later in the day. Authorities have also set up a helpline (01364-233900) for anxious family members. As the monsoon draws near, police have reiterated their warnings to bus drivers on the Badrinath route to limit passenger loads, check brakes at hill checkpoints, and avoid driving at night. A magistrate will look into the vehicle's fitness, the condition of the crash barrier at the scene of the collision, and the driver's duty hours.