5 from Ambala die in Mandi mishap

Mahesh Chander Sharma

Sundernagar, December 11

Six of a marriage party were killed and eight injured when when the tempo traveller they were travelling in  fell into a gorge at Kangoo near Sundernagar on the Manali-Chandigarh National Highway today. The condition of three victims has been stated to be critical. They were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. The groom’s mother was among those killed in the mishap.  According to information, the occupants were going back to Ambala after attending a marriage party at Nerchowk near Sundernagar.  The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while trying to save a motorcyclist coming from the opposite direction and fell into a gorge.

Four persons died on the spot, while two died at the Civil Hospital, Sundernagar. All the injured were shifted to the Sundernagar hospital, from where three were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.The deceased have been identified as Mohinder Pal (54), his wife Santosh Rani (50), Neelam Sethi (65), groom’s mother, Dharam Pal Kumar (64), Shashi Oberoi (59), all residents of Ambala, while Ravinder Kumar (48) belonged to Panchkula. The injured are Gurdeep Singh from Ropar; Ranju from Panchkula, Harish Sethi from Ambala, who is the father of the groom, Reema from Ambala City, Priesh Thakur from Bihar, Gurdeep Singh from Ropar, Darshgan Rani from Ambala and driver Vikram Singh from Ambala Cantt.

Locals gathered on the spot after the accident and helped in the rescue work. Sundernagar DSP Taranjeet Singh said the police had registered a case under Sections 279, 337, 338 and 304-A of the IPC and further investigations were on. The district administration gave Rs 10,000 each to the next of kin of those killed and Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 to the injured.

The deceased

The deceased have been identified as Mohinder Pal (54), his wife Santosh Rani (50), Neelam Sethi (65), groom’s mother, Dharam Pal Kumar (64), Shashi Oberoi (59), all residents of Ambala, while Ravinder Kumar (48) belonged to Panchkula.