A 40-year-old pilgrim from Tamil Nadu was swept away in the Alaknanda River at Nandprayag in Chamoli district on 30 September, shortly after performing rituals for his deceased father. Police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) began searching the river and nearby stretches, but no trace was found by late evening.
The missing man has been identified as Guru Prasad, a member of a Tamil Nadu group visiting Badrinath Dham. He had travelled with his mother as part of a group of about 60 devotees.
The incident occurred between 2:00 PM and 2:30 AM PM near the confluence of the Nandakini and Alaknanda rivers. Nandprayag is among Uttarakhand’s 5 Prayags, or river confluences.
What happened at Nandprayag
According to the police account, Prasad had completed the ‘tarpan’ ceremony for his father at the confluence. His father had died about one year earlier. After the ritual, Prasad went towards the river to collect water for his mother.
He reportedly lost his footing near the bank and fell into the fast-flowing Alaknanda. Other travellers and local residents alerted the police through emergency number 112.
The incident took place during the group’s journey to Badrinath, one of Uttarakhand’s Char Dham pilgrsites. The group had stopped at Nandprayag before continuing its travel plans.
Search operation underway
The Nandprayag police team reached the location after receiving the alert. Search efforts began along the riverbank and at other possible locations in the surrounding area.
Police and SDRF personnel continued checking stretches of the river where the current could have carried Prasad. The search remained underway, with no confirmed recovery or sighting reported by late evening.
Nandprayag in-charge Sampurnanand Juyal said the man had entered the riverside area after completing the ceremony and was swept away when he slipped. He said the search operation was continuing.
The available information does not report any other casualty in the incident. Authorities had not confirmed whether Prasad had been found when the search continued late on 30 September.
Conclusion
Guru Prasad remains untraced after being swept into the Alaknanda at Nandprayag while collecting water after his father’s rites. Police and SDRF teams are continuing the search.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who was swept away in the Alaknanda River?
Guru Prasad, a 40-year-old member of a Tamil Nadu pilgrgroup, was swept away.
Q. Where did the incident occur?
It occurred at Nandprayag in Chamoli district, near the confluence of the Nandakini and Alaknanda rivers.
Q. Why had Guru Prasad visited the area?
He had travelled to Badrinath Dham to perform ‘tarpan’ for his deceased father and later went to collect water for his mother.
Q. When did the incident happen?
The incident took place on 30 September between 2:00 PM and 2:30 AM PM.
Q. Who is conducting the search?
Nandprayag police and the State Disaster Response Force are conducting the search operation.
Q. Was Guru Prasad found?
No trace had been found by late evening, according to the available information.
