3 killed, two hurt as car falls into gorge in Bharmour area

Three persons were killed and two others seriously hurt when the car they were travelling in skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Retan on the Bharmour-Grima-Agasan road in Bharmour subdivision of Chamba district late on Sunday.

The police said the car was en route from Bharmour to Agasan when the driver lost control of the wheel. The vehicle tumbled into the gorge, killing two occupants on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Shankar Das, Banko Devi and Chaman Lal, all residents of Agasan village under Siyunr Post Office. While Shankar Das and Banko Devi died on the spot, Chamna Lal succumbed to the injuries at Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba, on Monday. Two injured — Aryan Kumar and Om Prakash — were admitted to the Civil Hospital in Bharmour where their condition is stated to be stable.

The police said local residents, alerted by the sound of the crash, were the first to reach the scene. Siyunr Panchayat Pradhan Duni Chand informed the police after which a rescue team reached the spot and retrieved the bodies with the help of locals.

Bharmour ADM Kulbir Singh Rana said the administration was extending immediate relief to the families. Meanwhile, a case has been registered into the mishap under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and investigation is on to ascertain the cause of the accident.