Devprayag gorge crash: 3 dead, 5 missing as vehicle plunges 200m
Synopsis
A vehicle with eight Rajasthan residents plunged 200 metres into a gorge near Devprayag on 2 June — three are confirmed dead, five remain missing. With SDRF teams from three units combing treacherous terrain, the tragedy is the second fatal gorge accident in Uttarakhand in under a week, raising urgent questions about road safety on the state's mountain highways during peak pilgrimage season.
Key Takeaways
A vehicle carrying eight people plunged nearly 200 metres into a gorge near Ganga Hotel Darshan , Devprayag , on 2 June 2025 .
Three bodies have been recovered; five occupants remain missing.
One injured survivor was rescued and shifted to Srinagar for medical treatment.
All occupants, including the driver, are reported to be residents of Rajasthan .
SDRF teams from Srinagar , Vyasi , and Dhalwala are conducting the rescue, assisted by rafting teams and local revenue officials.
A similar accident on 30 May in Rudraprayag killed three and injured five , marking the second such tragedy in under a week.
A vehicle carrying eight people plunged nearly 200 metres into a deep gorge near Ganga Hotel Darshan in Devprayag, Uttarakhand, on Tuesday, 2 June, killing at least three and leaving five others unaccounted for. Rescue agencies launched an immediate multi-team operation to locate the missing occupants in what officials described as an extremely inaccessible terrain.
What Happened
The vehicle, bearing registration number UK 08 TA 5433, was travelling towards Haridwar when it lost control and fell into the gorge. All occupants, including the driver, are reported to be residents of Rajasthan. One injured survivor was rescued from the site and shifted to Srinagar by a departmental ambulance for medical treatment.
Rescue Operation Under Way
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Revenue Department, and the Devprayag Police rushed to the site as soon as the incident was reported. SDRF units from Srinagar, Vyasi, and Dhalwala were deployed, with a six-member SDRF team from the Vyasi unit being the first to reach the spot and begin operations. Rafting teams are assisting in transporting the recovered bodies to the roadside due to the difficult terrain and the depth of the gorge.
Local revenue officials, including the area Patwari, are also present at the site. Authorities said rescue teams are working on a war footing to trace any remaining missing occupants and recover the vehicle. A detailed assessment of the accident is still under way.
Administration's Response
The district administration has assured that all necessary resources have been deployed to expedite the rescue mission. Officials said complete information regarding the condition of all passengers is awaited and further details are expected once the operation concludes.
A Pattern of Fatal Road Accidents in Uttarakhand
This incident comes just days after another deadly crash in the region. On 30 May, three people lost their lives and five others sustained injuries when a car skidded off the Pali Link Road in Rudraprayag district and plunged into a deep gorge. SDRF teams had carried out a difficult rescue operation to evacuate the injured and recover the bodies of the deceased. The back-to-back tragedies have renewed concerns about road safety on Uttarakhand's mountainous highways, particularly during the ongoing pilgrimage season when traffic on these routes rises sharply.
Point of View
Yet guardrail infrastructure, vehicle fitness enforcement, and driver fatigue regulations remain chronically under-resourced. The fact that rafting teams — not road-rescue vehicles — are the primary means of body recovery speaks to how little the terrain has been accounted for in emergency planning. Until road safety investment matches the scale of religious tourism promotion, tragedies like Devprayag and Rudraprayag will keep repeating.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Devprayag gorge accident on 2 June 2025?
A vehicle carrying eight people fell nearly 200 metres into a deep gorge near Ganga Hotel Darshan in Devprayag, Uttarakhand, on 2 June 2025. Three bodies have been recovered and five occupants remain missing, with one injured survivor shifted to Srinagar for treatment.
Who were the occupants of the vehicle?
All eight occupants, including the driver, are reported to be residents of Rajasthan. The vehicle bore registration number UK 08 TA 5433 and was travelling towards Haridwar when it lost control.
Which rescue teams are involved in the Devprayag operation?
SDRF units from Srinagar, Vyasi, and Dhalwala are leading the rescue, with the six-member Vyasi team being the first to arrive. Devprayag Police, Revenue Department officials, and rafting teams are also assisting due to the difficult terrain.
Is this the only recent road accident in Uttarakhand?
No. On 30 May 2025, three people died and five were injured when a car fell into a gorge off the Pali Link Road in Rudraprayag district. The Devprayag accident is the second such fatal gorge crash in Uttarakhand in under a week.
What is the current status of the rescue operation?
Rescue teams are continuing operations on a war footing to locate the five missing occupants and recover the vehicle. The administration has confirmed all necessary resources are deployed; a full assessment is pending completion of the operation.
