In a tragic turn of events, the body of journalist Rajeev Pratap was recovered from the Bhagirathi River in Uttarkashi on Sunday, ten days after he went missing. The 36-year-old, an alumnus of IIMC and the face behind the digital channel Delhi Uttarakhand Live, had disappeared on September 18, sparking fears among his family who alleged he had been threatened over his investigative reports.
Police, however, maintain that Pratap met with an accident. &ldquo;Prima facie, his car skidded off the road into the gorge and was swept away by the river. CCTV footage showed him driving alone just minutes before the incident,&rdquo; said Superintendent of Police Sarita Dobhal.
Pratap&rsquo;s Alto car was pulled out from the river near Gangori on September 19, but his body was not found until days later at Joshiyara Barrage. A slipper was discovered inside the vehicle during inspection.
His wife, Muskan, insists the case is not an accident. &ldquo;He told me he was being threatened after he uploaded reports on a hospital and a school. He feared for his life. Hours later, his phone went unreachable. I am certain he was abducted. He didn&rsquo;t just fall off the road,&rdquo; she alleged.
The family had lodged a complaint fearing abduction and foul play, citing hostility from locals who were unhappy with his reporting. Police have registered an FIR under sections pertaining to abduction and are awaiting the postmortem report to confirm the cause of death.
Rajeev Pratap&rsquo;s death has not only shocked Uttarkashi but also raised pressing questions about the safety of journalists exposing ground realities in sensitive regions.

Uttarakhand Journalist Found Dead in River

Family alleges foul play, police cite accident in Rajeev Pratap’s mysterious death

Uttarakhand Journalist Found Dead in River

Family alleges foul play, police cite accident in Rajeev Pratap’s mysterious death

September 29, 2025 | 15:56 IST