U'khand: 14 killed as tempo traveller plunges into river

The vehicle carrying 26 people rolled 200 metres down the gorge and into the river, say officials

Fourteen tourists were killed and 12 injured when a tempo traveller skidded off the road and fell into Alaknanda river on Badrinath national highway here in Uttarakhand on Saturday, officials said.

The tourists were on the way to Chopta when the accident happened around 11.30 am near Raitoli village.

The vehicle carrying 26 people rolled 200 metres down the gorge and into the river, they said.

Ten people died on the spot while four others succumbed later in hospitals, according to the district administration.

Two persons were declared dead at Rudraprayag district hospital while two were declared brought dead at AIIMS, Rishikesh. Three of the dead are yet to be identified, according to hospital authorities.

The driver of the tempo traveller, Karan Singh, is also among the dead. Victims of the accident were residents of Noida, Mathura, Jhansi of Uttar Pradesh, Haldwani of Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana.