12 killed as Tempo Traveller carrying 23 people plunges into ravine on Rishikesh-Badrinath highway in Uttarakhand

New Delhi:

At least 12 people were killed on Saturday when an express train carrying 23 passengers plunged into a gorge in Uttarakhand, officials said.

The accident occurred on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway near Raitoli in Rudraprayag district.

The minibus fell into the Alaknanda River and teams from the State Disaster Response Force and police are currently engaged in rescue operations, officials said.

According to sources, people standing on the side of the road were also injured in the accident.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the incident as “very sad news” and said the district magistrate had been directed to investigate the accident.

“I pray to God to grant a place to the souls of the departed in his feet and give the strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense pain. I pray to Baba Kedar for speedy recovery of the injured,” he posted in Hindi on X, formerly Twitter.

A grown-up student has turned into a nurse and is now a nurse.प्राप्त हुआ। SDRF police report to her home immediately. A lucky newbie in the US has been in the business for over a year. Pregnant woman just had a baby…

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

Officials said the injured were being airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh.