Dehrudan: Three women died, and six others suffered injuries when an SUV transporting pilgrims plunged into a gorge in Uttarakhand's Nainital district on Thursday, the State Disaster Response Force reported.

All three fatalities hailed from Uttar Pradesh, the SDRF added.

The mishap took place near Bhowali on the Bhowali-Almora National Highway as the group travelled in a Scorpio SUV from Bareilly towards Kainchidham Ashram.

Alerted around 9:45 am, police and SDRF personnel rushed to the site and initiated rescue efforts alongside locals, an official stated.

The deceased women were identified as Ganga Devi, 56, Brijesh Kumari, 26, and Nainasti Gangwar, 24, all from Bareilly.

Injuries befell Brijesh Kumari's husband, Rahul Patel, 35, their seven-year-old son Rishi Patel, and Ganga Devi's daughter Swati, 20, the SDRF detailed.

Akshay Singh, 20, Jyoti, 25, and Karan, 25, also sustained wounds in the crash, the agency noted.

With inputs from PTI