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Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Skeletal remains found from Lohit riverbank suspected to be of Assam dentist
Itanagar: The skeletal remains discovered along the Lohit riverbank in Arunachal Pradesh's Lohit district is suspected to be of Guwahati-based dentist Dr. Debanjib Kumar Sharma, who had gone missing from a riverside resort nearly a month ago. Dr. Debanjib Kumar Sharma. Police said they have collected DNA samples from Dr Sharma's mother and daughter and it will be sent to laboratories in either Guwahati or Kolkata for forensic analysis, sparking hopes of closure for the family. The remains were found on June 23 by local fishermen near Panbari, about 15-20 km from Parshuram Kund. Kumar had disappeared under mysterious circumstances on May 31 after checking into Tulow Resort, situated near the river. 'We've collected DNA samples from Dr Sharma's mother and daughter. They will be sent to laboratories in either Guwahati or Kolkata for forensic analysis,' said Lohit superintendent of police (SP) Thutan Jamba. 'It may take two to three months, but we are pushing for quicker results.' According to police, Sharma was last seen by resort staff around 8 am on the day of his disappearance, reportedly shifting rooms due to landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall. His belongings, including his motorcycle, were found intact—fueling confusion over his sudden disappearance. Rescue teams comprising police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were immediately pressed into service, but no trace was found until last week's grim discovery. Medical experts believe the skeletal remains could be about a month old, which matches the timeline of Sharma's disappearance. Yet, police are keeping all possibilities open. 'Preliminary inputs suggest accidental drowning due to high river levels,' Jamba said. 'However, we are not ruling out foul play.' 'We will continue the investigation based on forensic findings,' the SP added.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Orphaned in bus crash that killed pilgrims, 10-year-old asks God, 'What was our fault?'
DEHRADUN: A heartbreaking video of 10-year-old Parth Soni sobbing by the roadside and pleading with Lord Badrinath after losing both his parents in a tragic bus accident has left many in tears. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Oh Badri-Vishal, what have you done? What did we do wrong? We were your devotees!" he cries in the clip, hands folded, eyes fixed on the Alaknanda river below. Parth, the only son of Vishal Soni, 42, and Gauri Soni, 41, from MP's Rajgarh, is the sole survivor from his immediate family in the accident on Thursday near Gholtir in Rudraprayag district, which claimed four lives while eight others are still missing. District disaster management officer NK Rajwar said chances of their survival are slim due to the river's strong currents. The fourth body, identified as Sanjay Soni (55) from Udaipur, was recovered Friday by State Disaster Response Force personnel. Rudraprayag's district emergency operation centre said it will be handed over to the family after legal formalities are completed. Parth in state of shock, parents'bodies to reach home today Steep terrain and powerful currents have hindered rescue efforts, with SDRF divers relying on rafts as diving remains too dangerous. The 31-seater bus was carrying 19 pilgrims from Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP and Maharashtra, all members of an extended family, when it collided with a speeding truck near a sharp bend on the Badrinath route. Parth had been seated next to his mother when the accident occurred. "He has been in a state of shock since the incident," said Nilesh Soni, Parth's uncle. Parth had travelled with his parents to Uttarakhand for Char Dham yatra, while his sisters Tejaswini, 17, and Manaswini, 15, stayed back in Rajgarh. The bodies of Vishal and Gauri were handed over to the family on Friday, and are expected to reach Rajgarh by Saturday, after which the final rites will be performed.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
‘O God, why': Orphaned in U'khand crash, wailing boy's video moves internet, leaves many tearful
Dehradun: A heartbreaking video of 10-year-old Parth Soni sobbing by the roadside and pleading with Lord Badrinath after losing both his parents in a tragic bus accident has left many in tears. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Oh Badri-Vishal, what have you done? What did we do wrong? We were your devotees!" he cries in the clip, hands folded, eyes fixed on the Alaknanda river below. Parth, the only son of Vishal Soni, 42, and Gauri Soni, 41, from Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh, is the sole survivor from his immediate family in the accident on Thursday near Gholtir in Rudraprayag district, which claimed four lives while eight others are still missing. District disaster management officer NK Rajwar said chances of their survival are slim due to the river's strong currents. The fourth body, identified as 55-year-old Sanjay Soni from Udaipur, Rajasthan, was recovered on Friday by State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel. Rudraprayag's district emergency operation centre (DEOC) said the body will be handed over to the family after legal formalities are completed. Steep terrain and powerful currents have hindered rescue efforts, with SDRF divers relying on rafts as diving remains too dangerous. The 31-seater bus was carrying 19 pilgrims from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, all members of an extended family, when it collided with a speeding truck near a sharp bend on the Badrinath route, officials said. Parth had been seated next to his mother when the accident occurred. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Surrounded by strangers and far from home, he is still struggling to grasp the magnitude of what happened. "He has been in a state of shock since the incident," said Nilesh Soni, Parth's uncle and Vishal's brother. Parth had travelled with his parents to Uttarakhand for the Char Dham yatra, while his sisters, Tejaswini, 17, and Manaswini, 15, and 80-year-old grandmother Bhagirathi stayed back in Rajgarh. Relatives have gathered at the Soni household, where grief hangs heavy and conversations are hushed. Kamlesh Soni, Vishal's brother, along with two relatives and a sub-inspector from Rajgarh police station, travelled to Uttarakhand to bring back the bodies. They were handed over to the family on Friday afternoon, and are expected to reach Rajgarh by Saturday afternoon, after which the final rites will be performed. (With inputs from Karishma Kotwal in Indore)
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Udaipur family's Char Dham pilgrimage ends in tragedy as tempo traveller plunges into Alaknanda; 12 feared dead
DEHRADUN: A devastating accident unfolded on Thursday morning in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district when a Tempo Traveller carrying a family of pilgrims from Udaipur, Rajasthan, lost control and plunged into the Alaknanda River. The vehicle, with 20 members of the same family on a Char Dham Yatra, was swept away by the river's powerful currents. According to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), three bodies have been recovered so far, identified as Vishal Soni (41), Dreamy (17), and Gauri Soni (41). Nine pilgrims remain missing, while eight injured individuals have been hospitalised four of them in critical condition. SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi confirmed that, despite extensive efforts, the submerged Tempo Traveller has yet to be located in the river. 'We received information about the accident around 7:30 AM. Our teams, along with the police and district administration, immediately launched a rescue operation with the help of divers,' Yaduvanshi stated. 'However, the strong currents and inaccessible terrain are posing significant difficulties in our relief efforts.' District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar provided an update on the casualties, saying, 'Three individuals have succumbed to their injuries, including two women. Eight injured have been airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh for treatment.'
United News of India
3 days ago
- General
- United News of India
Three pilgrims die, eight injured, nine missing as bus falls into Alaknanda
Dehradun, Jun 26 (UNI) Three pilgrims died, eight others were seriously injured and nine went missing as a bus going towards Badrimath Shrine fell into a 300 metres gorge in Rudraprayag on Thursday morning. Chances of survival of the missing pilgrims seems to be remote, said State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) officials engaged in rescue and search operation. Rescuers recovered three dead bodies while search for nine missing persons from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand was going on. Eight injured pilgrims were rushed to a nearby hospital. Tragedy occurred near State Bank Turn, at Gholtir area in Rudraprayag when a 31-seater Char Dham pilgrimage bus UK 08 PA 7444, went out of control and plunged into Alaknanda River, nearly 300 meters down the road. The bus was going from Rudraprayag to Badrinath carrying passengers. Bus driver Sumit Kumar hailed from Haridwar. As many as 20 passengers were seated in the bus when the ill fated vehicle met the tragedy. SDRF officials informed that some of the pilgrims were thrown out of the bus as it skidded into the gorge before going in the river. They were rescued from the gorge by SDRF, NDRF, local public, police and revenue department teams. Around eight injured passengers were rescued and sent to Rudraprayag district hospital for medical aid. Some of the critically injured pilgrims were airlifted to All Iindia Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh. Besides rescuing eight injured, SDRF and other rescue teams at the accident site recovered two dead identified as 42 year old Vishal Soni from Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh and 17 years old Dirmi from Surat in Gujarat. Third body, that of a woman pilgrim was taken out of the river near Dhari Devi temple far down the stream where accident occurred. As per SDRF she was one of missing persons but her identity could not be confirmed. Injured pilgrims included Deepika Soni, 42, Hemlata Soni, 45, both from Rajasthan, Ishwar Soni, 46, Bhavna Soni, 43, and 7-year old girl Bhavya Soni, all three from Surat in Gujarat. Apart from them 10 year old boy Parth Soni, from Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh, bus driver Sumit Kumar, 23, from Bairagi Camp in Haridwar and Amita Soni, 49, a resident of Mira Road, Maharashtra were also sent to hospital for treatment. Passengers stated to be missing were 28 years old Ravi Bhavsar, Lalit Kumar Soni, 48, Sanjay Soni,55, Chetna Soni, 52 and 77-year old Sushila Soni all residents of Udaipur, Rajasthan. Mauli Soni, 19, Mayuri,24, resident of Surat, Gujarat and 12 years old Cheshta all residents of Surat, Gujarat, Gauri Soni, 41, from Rajgarh Madhya Pradesh and Katta Ranjana Ashok,59, from Mira Road, Maharashtra were also informed by the SDRF as missing. Search and rescue operation was going on at the time of filing the story. SDRF claimed that rescue operation was challenging due to the strong river current, harsh terrain, bad weather and deep gorge. Expressing his grief over the accident chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that news of a bus carrying passengers plunging into a river in Rudraprayag was extremely sad "Relief and rescue operation is going on a war footing by SDRF and other agencies.I am in constant contact with the local administration regarding this matter. Three seriously injured passengers have been airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh for immediate medical assistance. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured" said Dhami. UNI XC RKM
