Dehradun: Two persons, including a Chhattisgarh resident, were killed and one individual was critically injured after heavy boulders came crashing down on a vehicle carrying five pilgrims and the driver, while they were on their way to Kedarnath on Friday evening.

The incident took place at Kadragad near Rudraprayag city.Driver of the vehicle, Rajesh Rajput, 38, who hailed from Lambh in Tehri district, died on the spot while Shailesh Kumar Yadav, 24, hailing from Chhattisgarh, who was seated next to him, died in hospital. Three others suffered minor injuries and were taken to a community health centre in Agastyamuni. They were discharged after initial medical care.The rock fall was triggered by a minor landslide.

It struck the vehicle's right side and the impact left it completely damaged. Apart from the driver, there were five pilgrims from Chhattisgarh's Durg district in the ill-fated vehicle. After visiting Gangotri, they were going to Kedarnath.Rudraprayag's district disaster management officer, Nandan Singh Rajwar, said, "There has been rainfall in the area, and the incident took place in a landslide-prone stretch. Huge boulders fell on the vehicle and the driver had no time to react." He added that in view of the weather situation, travellers have been advised to exercise extra caution.