Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand) [India], July 17 : Two people were killed after a truck plunged nearly 100 metres into a gorge on the Tarsali-Phata road in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, prompting a joint rescue operation by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), district police and fire services, officials said.
The District Control Room (DCR) in Rudraprayag was notified late on Thursday night that a truck had veered off the road and fallen into a deep gorge close to Tarsali in the Phata area, according to the SDRF.
Following the alert, an SDRF rescue team from Sonprayag, led by Sub-Inspector Ashish Dimri, was rushed to the accident site with specialised rescue equipment.
"Acting swiftly on the alert, an SDRF rescue team from Sonprayag, led by Sub-Inspector Ashish Dimri, was dispatched to the spot with the necessary rescue equipment," the SDRF said in a statement.
At the site, personnel from the SDRF, NDRF, district police and fire services carried out a joint rescue operation.
"Using rope rescue techniques, the SDRF team descended approximately 100 metres into the gorge to reach the wrecked truck," the SDRF said.
The rescue team found two unconscious persons near the vehicle and evacuated them from the gorge using a hard-board stretcher before handing them over to the 108 ambulance service.
"Following medical examination, doctors declared both individuals dead," the SDRF said.
In a separate incident earlier this week, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) of the Uttarakhand Police successfully rescued a young man who fell into a deep gorge on the Kedarnath trekking route, officials said.
The incident occurred near Chhodi, located approximately two kilometres ahead of Gaurikund. The District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC), Rudraprayag, alerted the SDRF late at night on July 15, requesting immediate rescue assistance for the individual.
Following the information, an SDRF rescue team from the Gaurikund Post, led by Team Commander Ashish Dimri, rushed to the spot with specialised rescue equipment. The team coordinated with the local police, District Disaster Response Force (DDRF), and YMF personnel and initiated an intensive search and rescue operation in the darkness.
Despite the extremely difficult terrain and challenging weather conditions, the SDRF personnel managed to navigate the steep descent to reach the injured youth in the gorge. He was safely extricated and brought back up to Gaurikund. After being safely rescued and provided with primary first aid on-site, the individual was shifted to a hospital for further medical treatment.
The rescued individual has been identified as Mohit Rawat, a resident of Badasu village in the Rampur area of Rudraprayag district.
The Kedarnath trek route is currently witnessing a heavy influx of pilgrims, and the SDRF remains stationed at various sensitive points along the track to handle such emergencies during the ongoing monsoon season.
The Uttarakhand Police have made multi-layered arrangements to ensure the safety, smooth movement, and well-organised management of pilgrims visiting the shrines.