Dehradun, June 27 -- At least three people were killed and nine others were missing in a road accident in Rudraprayag on Thursday, officials said, adding that nine others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment. A 31-seater bus veered off the highway in Gholtir area and plunged into the Alaknanda river at around 7.50am. The bus carrying 19 pilgrims and driver was en route from Rudraprayag to Badrinath, officials said. At least three people died in the incident and nine others were missing, with officials fearing that the missing are dead. "Three people have been confirmed dead, including Vishal Soni (42) from Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh, Dreamy (17) from Surat in Gujarat, Gauri Soni (41) from Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh," Rudraprayag superintendent of police (SP) Akshay Prahlad Konde said. State disaster response force (SDRF) media in-charge Vineet Devrani said that the eight people who sustained injuries were thrown off the bus before it submerged in the river. "Rescue teams from the police, fire department, SDRF, and local residents reached the site promptly and began rescue operations," he said. "The injured who were flung out were brought up to the road and taken to the district hospital in Rudraprayag." Rudraprayag chief medical officer Dr Ram Prakash said the four of the injured sustained critical injuries and have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh. "The four people airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh include Deepika Soni (42), Hemlata Soni (45), Ishwar Soni (46), and the bus driver Sumit Kumar (23)." The driver told the media that he lost control of the bus after a truck hit the vehicle from the side. "A speeding truck came from the opposite side and hit us on my side of the bus after which I lost control and the bus fell into the Alaknanda," Kumar said. "We were driving at the speed of around 20km per hour." The SP, however, said that preliminary investigations point toward negligence by the bus driver. "The preliminary investigations point toward negligence by the driver and a possible mechanical fault in the vehicle as probable causes of the accident," he said, adding that a first information report (FIR) was registered under sections 125 (endangering life or personal safety of others), 106 (causing death by negligence), and 281 (driving a vehicle negligently on a public road) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)". A probe is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident. "Rescue teams continue to search the rugged terrain along the Alaknanda river, hoping to trace the remaining missing persons," Konde added....