A potentially disastrous incident was averted in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, when an SUV transporting pilgrims to Kedarnath lost control and tumbled around 50 meters down the road, stopping near a riverbank. The event occurred close to Tilwara petrol pump in Rudraprayag at approximately 5 a.m. The vehicle, with registration number UP-16 DK 0856, was en route to Kedarnath Dham from West Bengal when it suddenly swerved off the mountainous road.
Upon notification, response teams including the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), District Disaster Response Force (DDRF), and 108 ambulance services swiftly arrived at the scene and initiated a rescue operation. All five occupants of the SUV, comprising the driver, Pradeep Kumar, and passengers Prince Singh, Sabiya Singh, Sujon Mukherjee, and Riya Mukherjee, were successfully evacuated from the location.
While two female passengers sustained severe injuries, the other three occupants suffered minor injuries. The injured individuals were promptly transferred to the District Hospital in Rudraprayag for medical attention, where their conditions are under close observation by healthcare professionals.
Preliminary evaluations suggest that the challenging mountainous topography might have contributed to the vehicle losing control, although a comprehensive investigation is underway to ascertain the precise cause of the mishap. Despite the difficult terrain, SDRF personnel managed to conduct the rescue operation efficiently along the riverbank, ensuring the safe extraction of all passengers with the assistance of local residents.
Authorities have advised caution to pilgrims and drivers traveling on the Kedarnath route, particularly during early morning hours and adverse road conditions. Following the removal of the vehicle from the site, traffic movement on the route has been restored. Police have confirmed that a thorough investigation into the incident is ongoing.
