3 kanwariyas killed in truck accident on Rishikesh-Chamba highway

Three Kanwariyas (Shiva devotees on pilgrimage) lost their lives, and 18 others were injured when a truck carrying them overturned on the Rishikesh-Chamba highway in Uttarakhand. The accident took place near Khedi in Tehri Garhwal district on Wednesday morning around 10 am. The truck was travelling from Sikandrabad in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, to Dharali in Uttarkashi, which is close to the holy Gangotri Dham.

According to Tehri Garhwal district magistrate Nitika Khandelwal, the truck overturned around 42 km from Rishikesh. The vehicle fell on its side and trapped many people underneath. “As the truck overturned, the victims were stuck under the vehicle. We had to use several JCB machines to pull them out. Sadly, three Kanwariyas died at the accident site,” she said.

The police identified the deceased as Sunil Saini (42), Vicky (27), and Sanjay Singh (46), all from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. The victims were among a group of 21 Kanwar pilgrims who had planned to reach Dharali to collect sacred water from the Ganga River during the annual Kanwar Yatra.

Rescue and investigation

Two seriously injured persons were taken to AIIMS Rishikesh for treatment, while the others were admitted to a hospital in Narendra Nagar. Emergency teams, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), were quickly sent to the spot and helped in rescue work. Many people were pulled out safely and taken for medical treatment.

Police are still investigating the exact cause of the accident. Survivors told the officials that the truck's brakes failed when it was taking a sharp turn. The truck was at the edge of the road when it lost control. Fortunately, a crash barrier on the roadside stopped the vehicle from falling into a deep gorge, which could have made the situation even worse. The district magistrate said, “For now, we can’t confirm the cause, but injured people told me that the brakes failed while taking a turn.”

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Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered condolences to the families of the deceased. He expressed deep sorrow over the tragic accident involving Kanwar pilgrims and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured.

Every year, lakhs of devotees take part in the Kanwar Yatra and walk or travel by road to collect holy water from the Ganga River to offer it at Lord Shiva temples. This tragic incident has again raised questions about the safety of vehicles transporting pilgrims on narrow, hilly roads of Uttarakhand.

Authorities have reminded drivers and organisers to ensure vehicles are well-maintained and not overloaded, especially during the busy pilgrimage season.