Dehradun: Search and rescue operations continued in the Alaknanda river on Wednesday for three persons still missing after a vehicle carrying seven pilgrims from Rajasthan's Jaisalmer area, and a driver plunged into the river a day earlier. Four bodies have been recovered and identified, while a minor boy was rescued alive. Officials said the Innova car was pulled out of the river on Wednesday morning, but nobody was found inside the mangled vehicle.
The incident occurred Tuesday morning as the victims were returning from Badrinath to Haridwar after completing the Char Dham yatra. Their car plunged nearly 200 metres into the river near Hotel Ganga Darshan at Devprayag.
Victims identified
SSP Tehri Shweta Choubey told TOI, "Those killed in the accident have been identified as Dr Dinesh Kumar Mali (27), Kamla Devi (67), Ashlesha (22) and driver Amit (32)." Amit was a resident of Laksar in Haridwar district. A 12-year-old boy, Ayushman, sustained serious injuries and was initially admitted to Srinagar Base Hospital before being referred to AIIMS Rishikesh. "We will take a call on shifting him only after confirmation from the team of doctors," Choubey added.
Missing persons
The three persons still missing have been identified as Guddi Devi (40), Nambardar and Janhvi (18). According to family members, Dr Dinesh, who was working at AIIMS Delhi, had embarked on the pilgrimage around 10 days ago along with his mother Kamla Devi, sister Guddi and her children. Due to health issues, his father, Loona Ram, stayed behind in Haridwar. The family was on its way to pick up Loona Ram from Haridwar when the accident occurred.
(With inputs from Vimal Bhatia in Jaisalmer)
