Dehradun, Jun 26 (UNI) Three pilgrims died, eight others were seriously injured and nine went missing as a bus going towards Badrimath Shrine fell into a 300 metres gorge in Rudraprayag on Thursday morning.
Chances for survival of the missing pilgrims was remote, said State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) officials engaged in rescue and search operation.
Rescuers recovered three dead bodies while search for nine missing persons from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand was going on. Eight injured pilgrims were rushed to the hospital.
Tragedy occurred near State Bank Turn, at Gholtir area in Rudraprayag when a 31-seater Char Dham pilgrimage bus UK 08 PA 7444, went out of control and plunged into Alaknanda River, nearly 300 meters down the road.
The bus was going from Rudraprayag to Badrinath carrying passengers from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The bus driver Sumit Kumar hailed from Haridwar. As many as 20 passengers were in the bus when the ill fated vehicle met the tragedy.
SDRF officials informed that some of the pilgrims were thrown out of the bus as it skidded into the gorge before plunging into the river. They were rescued from the gorge by SDRF, NDRF, local public, police and revenue department teams.
Around eight injured passengers were rescued and sent to Rudraprayag district hospital for medical attention. Some of the critically injured pilgrims were airlifted to All Iindia Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh.
Besides rescuing eight injured pilgrims, the SDRF and other rescue teams recovered two dead identified as 42 years old Vishal Soni from Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh and 17 years old Dirmi from Surat in Gujarat. Third body, that of a woman pilgrim was taken out of the river near Dhari Devi temple far down the stream from where accident occurred.
As per SDRF she was one of missing persons but her identity could not be confirmed.
The injured pilgrims included Deepika Soni, 42, Hemlata Soni, 45, both from Rajasthan, Ishwar Soni, 46, Bhavna Soni, 43, and 7-year old girl Bhavya Soni, all three from Surat in Gujarat. Apart from them 10 year old boy Parth Soni, from Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh bus driver Sumit Kumar, 23, from Bairagi Camp in Haridwar and Amita Soni, 49, resident of Mira Road, Maharashtra were also sent to hospital for treatment.
Missing pasengers include 28 year old Ravi Bhavsar, Lalit Kumar Soni, 48, Sanjay Soni,55, Chetna Soni, 52 and 77-year old Sushila Soni all residents of Udaipur, Rajasthan. Mauli Soni, 19, Mayuri,24, Resident of Surat, Gujarat and 12 years old Cheshta all residents of Surat, Gujarat, Gauri Soni, 41, from Rajgarh Madhya Pradesh and Katta Ranjana Ashok,59, from Mira Road, Maharashtra were also informed by the SDRF as missing.
Rescue and search operation was going on at the time of filing the story.
SDRF claimed that rescue operation was challenging due to the strong river current, harsh terrain, bad weather and deep gorge. According to an SDRF officials survival chance of the missing pilgrims was very less.
Expressing his grief over the accident chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that news of a bus carrying passengers plunging into a river in Rudraprayag was extremely sad. "Relief and rescue operation is going on a war footing by SDRF and other agencies.I am in constant contact with the local administration regarding this matter. Three seriously injured passengers have been airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh for immediate medical assistance. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured" said Dhami.
UNI XC RKM