Six individuals lost their lives in a tragic road accident that occurred in the Rampur sub-division of Shimla district on Friday evening. The vehicle, a pick-up van, veered off the road and plummeted into a deep gorge, resulting in the instantaneous death of all its occupants.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the driver of the ill-fated pick-up van was engaged in collecting milk from surrounding villages and transporting it to the milk plant located at Dutt Nagar. It was on his return journey that the accident took place, claiming the lives of all six people onboard, including a mother and her 12-year-old son.
A video that circulated on social media platforms captured a poignant moment where the mother was heard speaking to her son about visiting her maternal grandmother’s house across the valley. Tragically, mere seconds later, the vehicle deviated from the narrow road and fell into the precipitous gorge.
Following the incident, a police team was promptly dispatched to the scene. The bodies of the deceased were transported to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Taklech, where post-mortem examinations were conducted. Preliminary police assessments suggest that the accident may have been a consequence of driver negligence. A case has been registered under the relevant legal statutes, and a comprehensive investigation is underway to ascertain the precise cause of the mishap.
This unfortunate event adds to a recent spate of fatal accidents in Himachal Pradesh. In the preceding two months, the state has witnessed at least three significant accidents, including those involving tourist vehicles in the Chamba district, which have resulted in multiple fatalities.
The victims have been identified as Abhishek Saini, aged 23, from village Sharanal, Tehsil Rampur; Ashok Jain, aged 32, from Chalta, Tehsil Rampur; Laik Ram, aged 56, from Pat, Tehsil Rampur; Nitin Jain, aged 23, from Chalta, Tehsil Rampur; Asha Kumari, aged 40, from Village Kawanu, district Kullu; and Ugal Azad, aged 12, also from Village Kawanu, district Kullu.
The Chenab Times News Desk