Two Killed After Truck Falls Into Gorge in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag; Joint Rescue Operation Launched

Two people died after a truck veered off the Tarsali-Phata road and plunged nearly 100 metres into a deep gorge in Uttarakhands Rudraprayag district, officials said. The accident prompted a joint rescue operation involving the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), district police, and fire services. According to officials, the District Control Room (DCR) received information late Thursday night about the truck falling into a gorge near Tarsali in the Phata area. Soon after the alert, an SDRF team from Sonprayag, led by Sub-Inspector Ashish Dimri, was dispatched to the accident site with specialised rescue equipment.

Rescue teams from the SDRF, NDRF, district police, and fire services worked together to reach the wreckage. Using rope rescue techniques, SDRF personnel descended approximately 100 metres into the gorge, where they located the damaged truck and two unconscious individuals lying nearby. The victims were carefully brought out of the gorge on a hard-board stretcher and handed over to the 108 ambulance service. However, after medical examination, doctors declared both individuals dead.

The fatal accident comes just days after the SDRF carried out another rescue operation in Rudraprayag. Earlier this week, the force rescued a young man who had fallen into a deep gorge along the Kedarnath trekking route near Chhodi, around two kilometres ahead of Gaurikund. After receiving an alert from the District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC) on the night of July 15, an SDRF team from Gaurikund, again led by Team Commander Ashish Dimri, rushed to the spot with specialised rescue gear. Working alongside local police, the District Disaster Response Force (DDRF), and YMF personnel, the team managed to reach the injured youth despite darkness, steep terrain, and difficult weather conditions.

The man, identified as Mohit Rawat from Badasu village in Rudraprayag district, was safely rescued, given first aid at the site, and shifted to a hospital for further treatment. The Kedarnath trekking route is currently witnessing a heavy influx of pilgrims during the ongoing pilgrimage season. In view of the challenging monsoon conditions, the SDRF has deployed personnel at several vulnerable locations along the route, while Uttarakhand Police have strengthened security and traffic arrangements to ensure the safe movement of devotees.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.