The serene pilgrimage to Uttarakhand turned into a nightmare for a group of devotees when their bus collided with a speeding truck near Gholtir in the Rudraprayag district. The accident claimed four lives and left eight others missing, with little hope of survival due to the strong currents of the Alaknanda river. Among the survivors is 10-year-old Parth Soni, who lost both his parents, Vishal Soni, 42, and Gauri Soni, 41, in the tragic accident.
A heartbreaking video of Parth sobbing by the roadside has gone viral, showing the young boy pleading with Lord Badrinath. "Oh Badri-Vishal, what have you done? What did we do wrong? We were your devotees!" he cries, his hands folded and eyes fixed on the river below. The emotional outburst of a child orphaned in such a devastating incident has left many in tears.
Parth had accompanied his parents on the Char Dham yatra, while his sisters, Tejaswini, 17, and Manaswini, 15, stayed back home in Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh, with their 80-year-old grandmother, Bhagirathi. Nilesh Soni, Parth's uncle and Vishal's brother, said the boy has been in a state of shock since the accident. He was seated next to his mother when the collision occurred.
The 31-seater bus was carrying 19 pilgrims from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, all members of an extended family. The accident occurred near a sharp bend on the Badrinath route. Rescue operations have been challenging due to the steep terrain and powerful currents, with State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) divers relying on rafts as diving remains too dangerous.
The body of Sanjay Soni, 55, from Udaipur, was recovered on Friday. Rudraprayag's district emergency operation centre (DEOC) has stated that the body will be handed over to the family after legal formalities are completed.
Relatives have gathered at the Soni household in Rajgarh, where grief hangs heavy. Kamlesh Soni, Vishal's brother, along with two relatives and a sub-inspector from Rajgarh police station, traveled to Uttarakhand to bring back the bodies. The bodies 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.
This tragedy echoes similar incidents where pilgrims have lost their lives in transit. In January 2025, a couple from Telangana died in Tirupati when their car was struck by a bus while returning from a pilgrimage, leaving their three children orphaned. In August 2024, two separate bus crashes in Pakistan resulted in at least 36 fatalities, including Shiite Muslim pilgrims returning from Iraq. These incidents highlight the risks associated with pilgrimage travel and the importance of road safety.
The heart-wrenching plea of young Parth Soni has resonated across the nation, prompting an outpouring of grief and support. As rescue efforts continue and families mourn their loss, the question of "what was our fault?" lingers in the air, a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the unpredictable nature of fate.
