4 dead, one injured as car plunges into gorge on Manali-Rohtang road

A fatal accident on the Manali-Rohtang road claimed four lives and left one person fighting for survival as an Alto car (HP-01K-7850), carrying five occupants, veered off the narrow mountain stretch near Rahni Nala and tumbled into a deep gorge.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the driver lost control of the car on a bend, possibly due to slippery road or excessive speed. The impact was catastrophic. Four occupants died on the spot and a fifth was pulled from the wreckage and rushed to a Manali hospital with critical injuries. The survivor remains under intensive care, with doctors closely monitoring his condition.

The police and rescue teams arrived at the spot. Navigating unstable terrain, they worked for hours to retrieve the bodies, and rescue the injured. Manali DSP KD Sharma said that the deceased had been identified as Ranjeet Singh (31) and Harvinder Singh (27), both from Hoshiarpur in Punjab, Narender Kumar (34) of Simsa village in Manali and Deema Ram (32) of the Karsog area in Mandi district. The injured was identified as Ravi Kumar (24), also from Hoshiarpur.

The DSP said it was not clear whether they resided temporarily in Manali or were tourists. He said efforts were on to contact their families.

The news of the accident sent shockwaves through nearby villages, where all five occupants were known by residents. Locals gathered at the hospital, anxiously awaiting updates on health of the surviving victim.

The Manali-Rohtang highway, though famed for its stunning vistas, is notorious for narrow bends, unpredictable weather and frequent landslips, particularly during the monsoon and winter months. The authorities often urge drivers to drive slow on sharp bends, avoid overtaking on single-lane stretches and ensure that vehicles undergo routine checks before mountain travel. They should stay alert for falling rocks and sudden water seepage during rains.