Uttarakhand mishap: Death toll rises to 6 as pilgrim’s body found 150 km away; after bus falls into Alaknanda river near Rudraprayag

NEW DELHI: Body of another victim from the Rudraprayag bus accident was recovered on Sunday in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district, nearly 150 km downstream from the site where the vehicle plunged into the Alaknanda river near Gholtir village, officials said. With the latest recovery, the death toll in the mishap has risen to six. The victim was identified as Lalit Kumar Soni, 48, a resident of Pratap Chowk in Gogunda, Rajasthan. The accident occurred on Thursday near Gholtir, between Rudraprayag and Gauchar, when the driver of the 31-seater bus lost control while negotiating a sharp bend on the hilly road. The bus, carrying pilgrims from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, was en route to the Badrinath shrine when it skidded off the road and fell into the Alaknanda river. Officials said the area is known for its steep terrain and dangerous curves, which have been the site of multiple accidents in the past. So far, six bodies have been recovered, and six more pilgrims remain missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for remaing.