Char Dham tragedy: 4 Jaisalmer pilgrims killed as Innova falls 200m into Alaknanda
Synopsis
A Char Dham pilgrimage from Jaisalmer ended in tragedy when an Innova plunged 200 metres into the Alaknanda near Devprayag, killing four including a young AIIMS doctor who had taken his parents on the yatra. Three women remain missing and a 12-year-old fights for life — a grim reminder of how unforgiving Uttarakhand's pilgrim routes can be.
Key Takeaways
Four people, including AIIMS doctor Dinesh Kumar Mali (27) , died after their Innova fell nearly 200 metres into the Alaknanda River .
The accident occurred around 10:30 am on Tuesday near Saknidhar, Devprayag , in Uttarakhand's Tehri district .
Three family members — Guddi Devi (40) , Narmada (20) and Ashlesha (16) — remain missing.
A 12-year-old boy, Ayushman , is critically injured and admitted to AIIMS Rishikesh .
SDRF teams from Vyasi , Srinagar and Dhalwala are continuing search operations amid strong currents and difficult terrain.
Four pilgrims from Jaisalmer, including an AIIMS doctor, died after their Innova skidded off a hill road and plunged nearly 200 metres into the Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand's Tehri district on Tuesday, officials said. Three other family members remain missing and a 12-year-old boy is critically injured, with rescue teams battling strong currents and rugged terrain to trace those still unaccounted for.
How the accident unfolded
The crash took place around 10:30 am near the Ganga Darshan Hotel in Saknidhar, Devprayag, as the vehicle headed towards Haridwar. According to police, the Innova suddenly went out of control and skidded off the road into the gorge. CCTV footage of the incident has since surfaced, and eyewitnesses reportedly said the vehicle was moving at high speed before the driver apparently lost control.
Those killed and missing
The deceased have been identified as Dinesh Kumar Mali (27), a resident of Dariya Nath Bawdi in Jaisalmer; his mother Kamala Devi (67); his niece Jahnavi (18); and the driver, Akhilesh. Ayushman (12) was critically injured and shifted from Srinagar Base Hospital to AIIMS Rishikesh. Guddi Devi (40) and her daughters Narmada (20) and Ashlesha (16) remain missing. Ayushman is Guddi Devi's son, while Jahnavi was her daughter.
Rescue operation
Devprayag Police rushed to the spot after locals raised the alarm. SDRF teams from Vyasi, Srinagar and Dhalwala were deployed and launched operations amid powerful river currents and a nearly 200-metre-deep gorge. The bodies of Dinesh, Kamala Devi and Akhilesh were recovered first, followed by Jahnavi's body nearly eight hours later. Divers continue to comb the river and surrounding area for the three missing persons.
An AIIMS doctor's pilgrimage cut short
Family members said Dinesh Kumar Mali had completed his MBBS in Ukraine and returned to India nearly two years ago. After briefly practising at his brother's medical facility in Jaisalmer, he joined AIIMS about a year ago. He had visited Jaisalmer just 10–15 days before the tragedy and taken his parents on a Char Dham pilgrimage. His father Lunaram, who suffers from respiratory illness, had reportedly stayed back in Haridwar and was not in the vehicle.
What's next
Search operations are continuing along the Alaknanda, with SDRF divers focused on stretches downstream of the crash site. Authorities are expected to review safety advisories on the steep Devprayag–Haridwar route, which sees heavy pilgrim traffic during the Char Dham yatra season.
Point of View
Another fatal plunge on a route that has seen too many. The Devprayag–Haridwar stretch is notorious for its narrow turns and sheer drops, yet safety audits and speed enforcement remain patchy during peak yatra months. The death of a young AIIMS doctor who travelled home specifically to take his parents on this pilgrimage underscores the human cost of treating these as routine commuter roads. Until Uttarakhand pairs its yatra promotion with hard infrastructure and driver-discipline checks, such tragedies will keep recurring.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Uttarakhand Char Dham accident on 2 June?
An Innova carrying pilgrims from Jaisalmer skidded off the road near Saknidhar in Devprayag and fell nearly 200 metres into the Alaknanda River on Tuesday morning. Four people were killed, three remain missing, and a 12-year-old boy is critically injured.
Who was the AIIMS doctor killed in the Alaknanda accident?
The doctor was Dinesh Kumar Mali, 27, a resident of Dariya Nath Bawdi in Jaisalmer. He had completed his MBBS in Ukraine, returned to India about two years ago, and joined AIIMS roughly a year before the accident.
How many people are still missing after the Devprayag car accident?
Three members of the same family — Guddi Devi (40) and her daughters Narmada (20) and Ashlesha (16) — remain missing. SDRF divers are still searching the Alaknanda River and surrounding terrain.
What caused the Innova to fall into the Alaknanda River?
According to police, the vehicle suddenly went out of control and skidded off the road while heading towards Haridwar. Eyewitnesses reportedly said the Innova was moving at high speed before the driver apparently lost control.
Where is the injured child being treated?
Ayushman, 12, was initially taken to Srinagar Base Hospital in Uttarakhand and later referred to AIIMS Rishikesh, where he is in critical condition.
