Uttarakhand: Death Toll In Rudraprayag Tempo Accident Rises To 14, PM Announces Rs 2 Lakhs Ex Gratia — Updates

At least fourteen people were killed and 14 others were injured after a tempo traveller fell into Alaknanda river after skidding-off the road in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag on Saturday.

A temp traveller skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag on Saturday. ( Image Source :PTI )

Uttarakhand: At least fourteen people were killed and a dozen others were injured after a tempo traveller fell into the Alaknanda river after skidding off the road on the Badrinath national highway in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag on Saturday. Following the tragic incident, seven people who sustained serious injuries in the accident were airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh, on the orders of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also offered his condolences to the families of the deceased and said that the local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in the rescue and relief operation.

Here's what has happened so far:

• Around 14 people were killed and 12 others were injured in the accident that occurred on Saturday in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag.
• According to Garhwal Inspector General of Police KS Nagnyal, all of the 26 victims were tourists, with most of whom belonged to Delhi. 
• They were headed towards Chopta from Noida when the tempo traveller skidded off and fell into the 150-meter-deep gorge.

• The Garhwal IG stated that the full details of the passengers would be ascertained only after the rescue operation concludes.
• Nandan Singh Rajwar, Rudraprayag Disaster Management Officer stated that the accident happened around 11 am today near the Raitoli village. 
• PM Modi announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakhs for the kin of the deceased from the PMNRF funds. He has also announced Rs 50,000 compensation for those who sustained injuries in the accident.

उत्तराखंड के रुद्रप्रयाग में हुआ सड़क हादसा हृदयविदारक है। इसमें अपने प्रियजनों को खोने वाले शोकाकुल परिजनों के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं। इसके साथ ही मैं सभी घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं। राज्य सरकार की देखरेख में स्थानीय प्रशासन पीड़ितों की हरसंभव मदद में जुटा…

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 15, 2024

• Meanwhile, those who sustained serious injuries were airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh to receive treatment.
• AIIMS Rishikesh Director, Dr Meenu Singh said, "...seven patients were brought to AIIMS, two of them were brought dead. Two patients are very serious...three patients are stable..."

#WATCH | Rudraprayag Tempo Traveller accident: AIIMS Rishikesh Director, Dr Meenu Singh says, "...7 patients were brought to AIIMS, 2 of them were brought dead - 2 patients are very serious...3 patients are stable..." pic.twitter.com/G2bkamjqEo

— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2024

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, and posted on X: "Received the sad news of the road accident in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. My condolences are with the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. The local administration and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue work and all possible help is being provided to the injured. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured."

• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed condolences to the bereaved families. "The news of the death of several people due to a tempo traveler filled with devotees falling into the Alaknanda River in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, is extremely sad. In this sorrow, I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families. I also hope for the swift recovery of the injured. I appeal to my Congress colleagues to provide all possible assistance to the administration in the rescue efforts," Gandhi posted on X.

उत्तराखंड के रुद्रप्रयाग में श्रद्धालुओं से भरे टेंपो ट्रैवलर के अलकनंदा नदी में गिरने से कई लोगों की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है।

इस दुख में, मैं सभी शोक संतप्त परिजनों को अपनी गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं। साथ ही घायलों के शीघ्र से शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की आशा करता हूं।…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 15, 2024

• Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh met the people who were injured in the Rudraprayag Tempo Traveller accident and said, "It is very important for the injured to get proper treatment. Their families are being informed one by one.  We have made all the arrangements to make sure that they get all the further required treatments...I have directed an investigation into this (accident)".
  
  Uttarakhand CM has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, ANI reported.

#WATCH | Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, " It is very important for the injured to get proper treatment. Their families are being informed one by one. We have made all the arrangements to make sure that they get all the further required treatments...I have directed an… https://t.co/jWtcnxwjzA pic.twitter.com/4AyErojHUJ

— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2024

• Earlier, CM Dham shared the visuals of the chopper airlifting the injured to AIIMS, "The severely injured passengers from the Rudraprayag road accident are being airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh. Instructions have been given to the concerned authorities for the best possible treatment of the injured. We are fully committed to providing all possible assistance to the injured." 

रुद्रपयाग सड़क हादसे में गंभीर रूप से घायल यात्रियों को एयरलिफ्ट कर एम्स ऋषिकेश लाया जा रहा है। संबंधित अधिकारियों को घायलों के बेहतर उपचार हेतु निर्देश दिए हैं।

हम घायलों की हर संभव सहायता के लिए पूर्ण रूप से प्रतिबद्ध हैं। pic.twitter.com/AgoICpWGIm

— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) June 15, 2024

• The rescue work is currently underway, Superintendent of Police Rudraprayag, Vishakha Ashok Bhadane told news agency ANI.

#UPDATE | Death toll in Rudraprayag Tempo Traveller accident rises to 12.

14 people are injured in the incident: SDRF pic.twitter.com/VOq7wHRNCH

— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2024