Eighteen people were injured when a tempo traveller skidded off the road and fell on the banks of Alaknanda river on Badrinath National Highway in Uttarakhand on Saturday, officials said.

Rudraprayag Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said that the accident happened around 11 am near near Raitoli village.

The tempo carrying 23 people, including three crew members, skidded off the road and fell about 250 meters down on to the banks of Alaknanda river, he said.

Singh said that 18 people have been admitted to the district hospital for treatment. As soon as information about the accident was received, relief and rescue teams reached the spot, he said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the accident and directed officials to provide necessary treatment to the injured.

In a post on X, the chief minister said that the local administration and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team are engaged in relief and rescue operations, and that the injured have been admitted to the nearest medical centre.

He added that the seriously injured are being sent to AIIMS, Rishikesh by air.

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