3 pedestrians among 5 injured in accident

Five persons, including three pedestrians, were injured when a pickup truck veered off the Luna-Chatrari road and landed on a road below.

The injured were identified as truck driver Santosh Kumar from Chatrari village and Ranjit from Basoli in Jammu. The injured pedestrians included Vikas Kumar, 22, from Luna village; Rinku, 35, from Tarela village; and Subhash Kumar, 32, from Thalla village in Chamba.

The accident took place around 11 am when the pickup truck on way from Luna to Chatrari veered off the road near the Chachiyan turn and landed on the Chamba-Bharmour National Highway after a 300 m fall. Two people, including the driver who were inside the pickup, ejected during the fall. Three pedestrians suffered serious injuries, the police said.

The pickup truck landed on a cement-laden truck parked along the highway, damaging the vehicles. No one was present inside the vehicles.

Locals rushed to the site and began rescue efforts evacuating the injured and transporting them to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba. While two victims are still receiving care in Chamba, three others were referred to Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda. The police have registered a case.