Tragedy on Badrinath Highway: Bus Plunges into Alaknanda, One Dead, 10 Missing

Rescue operations continue in Rudraprayag as SDRF, NDRF, and locals race against time after 18-seater bus crashes into river

A tragic accident struck Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district when a bus carrying 18 passengers from Rishikesh to Badrinath veered off the road and plunged into the swollen Alaknanda River near Gholtir on the Badrinath Highway. The incident occurred while the bus was climbing uphill in the Dolathir area. According to initial reports, the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to tumble into the river below.

One passenger has been confirmed dead, and 10 others remain missing. So far, seven individuals have been rescued—six of whom have been hospitalized with injuries. Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the local administration launched immediate search operations. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as panicked locals rushed to the site and formed human chains to assist in pulling out the injured from the riverbank.

The bus remains partially submerged, making the total number of occupants difficult to confirm. Authorities estimate that between 15 to 18 people were onboard at the time of the accident. Senior police and administrative officials are on-site, coordinating the ongoing rescue and relief operations.

The Rudraprayag administration has appealed to the public not to spread rumours and rely solely on official updates. The incident comes amid continuous heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for more rain in isolated parts of the state, heightening concerns over further accidents in the hilly terrain.

Efforts remain focused on locating the missing and providing critical medical aid to the injured.