At least 14 people were killed after a tempo traveller carrying 23 passengers fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand on Saturday, officials said. The accident occurred on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway near Raitoli in the Rudraprayag district.

The minibus fell into the Alaknanda River, prompting immediate rescue operations by the State Disaster Response Force and police teams. Several people standing by the roadside were also injured in the accident, according to NDTV sources.

President Droupadi Murmu expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Prime Minister's Office announced an aid of ?2 lakh to the families who lost a member and ?50,000 compensation to those injured.

"The road accident in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is engaged in all possible help to the victims," the PMO quoted Prime Minister Modi.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called the incident "very sad news" and ordered an investigation into the accident by the district magistrate. "I pray to God to grant the souls of the departed a place in his feet and provide strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense pain. I pray to Baba Kedar for the speedy recovery of the injured," he posted in Hindi on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Injured individuals are being airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh for treatment, officials said.