After a devastating bus accident in Uttarakhand鈥檚 Rudraprayag on Thursday, a heartbreaking video emerged of a 10-year-old boy, who was seen sobbing by the roadside and pleading with Lord Badrinath after losing both parents.
At least four people were killed after a 31-seater bus carrying pilgrims plunged into the Alaknanda River in the Gholtir area of Uttarakhand鈥檚 Rudraprayag. Three deceased passengers were found on Thursday, while another missing pilgrim was found dead yesterday.
At least eight people are still missing and rescue operations are still going on, according to police. Six teams, including SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, the police, a district team and fire brigade personnel, are constantly searching for the missing people, said Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman.
The boy, identified as Parth Soni, was the son of Vishal Soni, 42, and Gauri Soni, 41, from Madhya Pradesh鈥檚 Rajgarh and the sole survivor from his immediate family in the accident, according to a report by the Times of India.
鈥淥h Badri-Vishal, what have you done? What did we do wrong? We were your devotees!鈥 he cried loudly as rescue operations began near the Alaknanda River after the tragic accident.
VIDEO | Rudraprayag: A passenger bus plunged into the Alaknanda River near Gholtir on the Badrinath Highway. Rescue operation is currently underway. Further details awaited.
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos 鈥 https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/yxDirR2jMW
鈥 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 26, 2025
Parth had travelled with his parents to Uttarakhand for Char Dham yatra and was seated next to his mother when the accident happened. He has been in a state of shock since the tragedy, said his uncle Nilesh Soni.
Vishal and Gauri鈥檚 bodies were handed over to the family on Friday and will reach Rajgarh by Saturday for the final rites.
Meanwhile, hopes of rescuing the other missing pilgrims are turning bleak due to violent currents and muddy waters through which not much can be seen, authorities said. Rescue teams are using rafts to locate the bus and other pilgrims.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met the injured and their relatives at AIIMS, Rishikesh and assured them of all help from the government. 鈥淲e stand with the families of the victims of the accident with full sensitivity,鈥 he said.
The injured driver of the vehicle, who hails from Kankhal in Haridwar, claimed the bus fell into the river after being hit by a truck coming from the opposite direction. There were 20 people, including the driver, on board the vehicle when it fell into the river, police said.
(with agency inputs)