Eighteen people were injured when a tempo traveler skidded off the road and fell into the banks of Alaknanda river on Badrinath National Highway in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand on Saturday. The officers provided this information.

Disaster Management Officer of Rudraprayag, Nandan Singh Rajwar said that the accident happened near Raitoli village at around 11 am.

The tempo carrying 23 people, including three crew members, skidded off the road and fell on the banks of the Alaknanda river about 250 meters below, he said.

Singh said that 18 people have been admitted to the district hospital for treatment. He said that as soon as information about the accident was received, the relief and rescue team reached the spot.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the accident and directed officials to provide necessary treatment to the injured.

In a post on Twitter, the Chief Minister said the local administration and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations, and the injured have been admitted to the nearest medical centre.

He said that the seriously injured are being sent to AIIMS, Rishikesh by air.