3 dead, 4 missing after Jaisalmer pilgrims' vehicle plunges into Alaknanda river in Uttarakhand

JAISALMER: A tragic road accident claimed three lives and left four people missing when an Innova car carrying pilgrims from Jaisalmer plunged nearly 200 meters into the Alaknanda River near Devprayag in Uttarakhand's Tehri district on Tuesday morning.

The accident occurred near the "Ganga Darshan Hotel" at Saknidhar in the Devprayag area when the vehicle reportedly went out of control and skidded off the road before falling into the river. The pilgrims were returning from the Char Dham Yatra and heading towards Haridwar.

Among those killed in the accident were Dr. Dinesh Kumar Mali (27), a resident of Dariya Nath Bawari in Jaisalmer, Kamla Devi (67), and the driver Akhilesh. A 12-year-old boy, Ayushman, sustained serious injuries and was initially admitted to Srinagar Base Hospital before being referred to AIIMS Rishikesh for advanced treatment.

Four passengers remain missing and are being searched for by rescue teams. The missing persons have been identified as Guddi Devi (40), Jahnavi (18), Narmada (20), and Ashlesha (16).

According to family members, Dr. Dinesh had been posted at AIIMS Delhi for the past year.

The family had undertaken the Char Dham pilgrimage recently. Guddi Devi is Dr. Dinesh's elder sister, while Ayushman is her son.

In a poignant twist, Dr. Dinesh's 70-year-old father, Loona Ram Mali, survived because he had remained behind at a dharamshala in Haridwar due to ill health. His wife Kamla Devi had accompanied the family on the pilgrimage and lost her life in the accident.

Officials said the Innova was returning to Haridwar when it suddenly went out of control near Devprayag. Witnesses reported that the vehicle appeared to be travelling at a high speed before the driver lost control. The car plunged directly into the river and became submerged, making rescue operations extremely challenging.

Following the incident, a police team from Devprayag Kotwali rushed to the spot. Three teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) from Vyas, Srinagar, and Dhalwala have been deployed. Rescue personnel and divers are continuing search operations despite the strong river current and difficult terrain.

Speaking about the tragedy, the deceased doctor's uncle, Jera Ram Mali, said the family had left Jaisalmer for the Char Dham pilgrimage several days ago. Since Loona Ram's health was not good, he was left at a dharamshala in Haridwar while the rest of the family hired an Innova and continued their journey. They were returning to Haridwar when the accident occurred.

He said the news of the tragedy has devastated the family. Relatives have left for Haridwar to assist Loona Ram and bring back the bodies of the deceased. Dr. Dinesh belonged to a respected family that runs Shri Data Medical Store in Gandhi Colony, Jaisalmer.

AndJaisalmer District Collector Anupama Jorwal expressed deep sorrow over the incident and said she is in constant touch with the Devprayag district administration to obtain updates and ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected family