Uttarakhand Bus Accident: Bus Falls Into Alaknanda River: 1 Dead, Several Missing Near Gholtir, Rescue Operations Underway

On Thursday morning, an 18-person bus crashed into the fast-moving Alaknanda River near the Gholtir–Badrinath Highway stretch in the Rudraprayag area.  After the accident, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the police, and the district government quickly started a huge rescue mission.

 The bus "lost control," according to IG Nilesh Anand Bharane, a spokesman for the Uttarakhand Police Headquarters. It then went off the road and into the river below.  The official bus manifest said there were 18 people on board, but the narrow, twisting roads, steep descents, and maybe even early monsoon rain all probably played a part in the vehicle losing its grip.

• One person has died, and seven others were hurt and rescued.

• As stated by local officials, seven passengers are still missing.

• Another report says that at least 10 people are still missing.

Police divers and SDRF teams are searching the river and its banks, but it's hard for them to get to the crash site.  The government has set up temporary medical aid stations, and people who get hurt will be taken to the closest hospitals in Rudraprayag and Rishikesh.

Response from the district administration

Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey stated that rescue efforts are going on and told all the resources that are needed to be sent out.

Bad terrain and weather risks

This accident is similar to one that happens a lot, narrow roads that cut along steep slopes make it easy for cars to skid during the monsoon.  There have been several high-profile bus and tourist car accidents on the Badrinath route, which is important for both pilgrimage and tourism. The worst of these was the Almora tragedy in November 2024, which killed over 36. IG Bharane told drivers to be careful and told transport operators to follow the rules for repair and loading.  Even though schedules are tight on pilgrimage roads like Badrinath, overloading and not checking vehicles properly are still very dangerous.

State officials are thinking about taking quick steps to make roads safer, like putting up speed bumps, warning signs, and guardrails.  At the moment, studies are still going on to find out if a mechanical problem, an uneven road, or bad weather was the main cause.

As the news spread, both locals and visitors expressed a lot of worry.  Many travelers who are going to Badrinath and Joshimath are now doubting the safety of the services that take them to and from these dangerous heights.  The government told the people that safety is their top priority until the full probe is over.

 Prospects

Right now, search and relief are still the most important things.  Seven people are officially missing, and the riverbed is very rough, so search and rescue activities may go on late into the night.  An official report with more information about the missing people and what to do next is due later today.