Chamoli. A major accident was narrowly avoided on the Badrinath Highway on Thursday when a bus carrying pilgrims from Jharkhand lost control after reportedly suffering a brake failure near Baina Kuli, close to Hanuman Chatti.
The bus was returning to Haridwar after the passengers completed their visit to Badrinath Dham. As the vehicle descended a steep stretch of road, its brakes reportedly stopped functioning, causing panic among passengers as the bus began picking up speed.
In a critical moment, the driver displayed remarkable presence of mind and steered the bus towards the hillside instead of allowing it to move towards the gorge. The vehicle eventually came to a halt after colliding with the hill, preventing what could have been a serious accident.
According to officials, the bus belonged to Konark Taxi Service and was carrying 32 pilgrims from Jharkhand. The group had been staying in Badrinath for about a week to attend a religious programme and was heading to Haridwar to board a train for their return journey.
Soon after the incident, local residents and personnel of the 23rd Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. All passengers were safely evacuated from the damaged vehicle.
Although the bus sustained damage in the collision, no serious injuries were reported. After initial medical assessment, all passengers were declared safe. Authorities later arranged alternative transportation to help them continue their journey to Haridwar.
Administrative officials also reached the site and shifted the damaged bus to a safer location. A technical inspection has been initiated, with preliminary findings indicating that brake failure may have been the cause of the incident.
The incident once again highlights the risks associated with travel on mountainous routes and the importance of vehicle fitness checks, especially during the ongoing pilgrimage season when thousands of devotees are travelling on the Char Dham routes.
