3 Manimahesh pilgrims killed, ten injured as vehicle plunges into gorge
Chamba, August 28
Three Manimahesh pilgrims, including two women, were killed and 10 injured when the Tata Sumo MUV they were travelling in plunged into a gorge. The vehicle veered off the Bharmour-Bharmani Mata road in Bharmour subdivision of Chamba district and fell deep into the gorge.
The mishap took place around 9 am at Kaloti on Wednesday, about 65 km from the district headquarters, said Chamba Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repswal. The deceased were identified as Neha (21), Diksha (39) and Santrup, all residents of Pathankot in Punjab.
A total of 13 people were on board the ill-fated vehicle. Nine of the injured are from Pathankot and one from Uttar Pradesh.
Locals rushed to the spot after hearing a crash and started a rescue operation while an emergency team including the police and home guard personnel also reached the spot.
The vehicle reportedly fell deep into the gorge, rendering it initially invisible from the road. Bystanders rushed to rescue the injured, pulling them from the wreckage and making arrangements to send them to the hospital. The immediate cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. However, initial investigations suggest that the driver lost control on the vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve.
The injured were taken to the Civil Hospital in Bharmour, while four badly injured were transferred to Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College & Hospital, Chamba.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner has urged the public to avoid overloading vehicles. He said that the ill-fated vehicle was overloaded with 13 people against its carrying capacity of nine persons. He emphasised that overloading was a major reason for accidents.
The narrow and winding roads had become more treacherous due to heavy rainfall in the past few days, he added. He said the families of the victims were informed. Police have registered a case, he said.
Avoid overloading, advises DC
- The vehicle veered off the Bharmour-Bharmani Mata road in Bharmour subdivision of Chamba district and fell deep into the gorge.
- A total of 13 people were on board the ill-fated vehicle. Nine of the injured are from Pathankot and one from Uttar Pradesh.
- It is suspected that the driver lost control on the wheel while negotiating a sharp curve.
- The DC has urged the public to avoid overloading vehicles. The vehicle was overloaded with 13 people against its carrying capacity of nine.
