A family pilgrimage to the Char Dham turned tragic after an Innova vehicle plunged into the Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand's Devprayag, leaving four dead, three missing, and a child critically injured
Jaisalmer: A spiritual journey undertaken by a family from Rajasthan's Jaisalmer ended in unimaginable tragedy after their vehicle plunged into a deep gorge and fell into the Alaknanda River near Devprayag in Uttarakhand. The devastating accident claimed the lives of four people, including a young doctor working at AIIMS Delhi, while three family members remain missing and a child is battling for survival.
The accident occurred near Ganga Darshan Hotel in the Saknidhar area of Devprayag when the family's Innova car reportedly lost control and veered off the road before plunging nearly 200 meters into the river below.
Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police launched an extensive search operation immediately after the accident. While four bodies have been recovered, efforts are continuing to locate the missing passengers.
AIIMS Delhi Doctor Among Victims
One of the deceased has been identified as Dr. Dinesh Kumar Mali (27), a resident of Dariya Nath Bawdi area in Jaisalmer. Dr. Mali had been serving at AIIMS Delhi for the past year and was also associated with a medical business in his hometown.
According to family members, the pilgrimage had been planned during the summer holidays. The family had left for the Char Dham Yatra nearly ten days ago, looking forward to a spiritual retreat together.
In a twist of fate, Dr. Mali's father, Lunaram, had been left behind in Haridwar before the family proceeded further into the hills, a decision that ultimately saved his life.
"The family had embarked on the pilgrimage with great enthusiasm, never imagining that the journey would end in such heartbreak."
Vehicle Falls Into Alaknanda River
According to preliminary information and eyewitness accounts, the vehicle was travelling along the mountainous route when the driver allegedly lost control. The Innova skidded off the road, plunged into a deep gorge and eventually submerged in the fast-flowing Alaknanda River.
The impact of the crash triggered a massive emergency response. SDRF teams from Vyasi, Srinagar and Dhalwala were rushed to the accident site to conduct rescue and recovery operations under challenging weather and river conditions.
Officials said strong currents and difficult terrain have complicated efforts to locate the missing passengers.
Four Dead, Three Family Members Missing
Authorities have confirmed the deaths of Dr. Dinesh Kumar Mali, his mother Kamala Devi (67), his niece Jhanvi (18), and the vehicle's driver, Akhilesh.
Meanwhile, three family members remain untraceable. The missing have been identified as Dinesh's elder sister, Guddi Devi (40), and her daughters Narmada (20) and Ashlesha (16).
Rescue teams continue to search the river and surrounding areas in hopes of locating the missing individuals.
"Search operations are underway, and all available resources have been deployed to trace the missing family members," rescue officials said.
Child Critically Injured in Uttarakhand Accident
A 12-year-old boy, Ayushman, survived the crash but sustained serious injuries. He was initially admitted to Srinagar Base Hospital before being referred to AIIMS Rishikesh after his condition deteriorated.
Doctors are closely monitoring his condition. The tragic incident has plunged the family and their hometown of Jaisalmer into mourning. Relatives, friends and local residents have expressed shock and grief over the devastating loss.
Rescue Operation Continues in Devprayag
Police and SDRF personnel remain at the accident site as search efforts continue. Officials are also investigating the exact circumstances that led to the vehicle losing control on the mountainous stretch of road.
The tragedy serves as another reminder of the risks associated with travel through hilly terrain during pilgrimage seasons, when roads witness heavy tourist and religious traffic.
As the search operation continues, families across Jaisalmer remain anxiously awaiting news of the missing passengers while mourning the lives already lost in one of the most heartbreaking road accidents of the ongoing Char Dham pilgrimage season.
