Four killed, two missing as SUV plunges into river near Gangotri

NDRF and SDRF teams carry a rescued body at the incident site after an Innova vehicle fell into a river near Gangnani on the Gangotri National Highway, in Uttarkashi on November 5, 2026. | Photo Credit: ANI

Four people were killed and two remain missing after an SUV carrying seven passengers plunged into the raging Bhagirathi river near Gangnani in Uttarkashi district on Thursday (November 5, 2026). The passengers, reportedly from Gujarat, were travelling to the Gangotri temple.

According to police, the accident took place on the Gangotri National Highway when the vehicle reportedly went out of control and plunged into the river.

Rescue teams recovered four bodies from the riverbank during an operation involving the local police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and emergency medical services.

The deceased have been identified as Ashokben Patel (49), Rutika Ashokbhai Patel (19), Ghanshyambhai Sarwaliya (32), from Gujarat and the driver, Surendra Singh, a resident of Haridwar.

The two missing passengers are Sudaben Ashokbhai Patel (45) and Kiranben Vishalbhai Patel (34).

Another passenger, 17-year-old Vedant Ashokbhai Patel, was rescued in an unconscious state. He was initially taken to the Primary Health Centre in Bhatwari and later referred to a higher medical facility for further treatment.

District Magistrate Prashant Arya said medical teams had been placed on alert as the search for the missing passengers continued. The circumstances leading to the accident are also being investigated, he added.

Published - November 05, 2026 11:00 pm IST