Rudraprayag: Two people, including the driver of a vehicle carrying pilgrims to Kedarnath, lost their lives, while four others were injured in a landslide-induced accident on the Rudraprayag-Gaurikund highway, officials reported Saturday.
The incident occurred late Friday evening near Kakragad, around 30 km from Rudraprayag district headquarters, when a large boulder detached from a hillside and struck the vehicle en route to the Kedarnath temple.
All passengers in the vehicle were from Chhattisgarh.
The district administration confirmed that the vehicle was carrying six people, including the driver, at the time of the accident. The driver, Rajesh Rawat (38), a resident of Nag Paniyala, Lambgaon, New Tehri, died on the spot.
Another passenger, Shailendra Kumar (24), succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital.
The injured—Laxman Singh (24), Omkar Singh (24), Vipesh Yadav (19), and Chitransh Sahu—all from Durg district in Chhattisgarh—were rushed to the Community Health Centre in Agastyamuni with the help of emergency services and local assistance. They are currently receiving treatment.
District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) Nandan Singh Rajwar confirmed the details, stating that rescue teams—including police and District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) personnel—arrived promptly after receiving the alert and launched a rescue operation.
The accident has once again underscored the risks posed by landslides on Uttarakhand's hilly roads, particularly during the pilgrimage season, when traffic to Kedarnath surges.
Authorities have urged travellers to exercise caution and stay informed through official updates on weather and road conditions.
(inputs from IANS)