Seven killed as SUV falls into gorge in Himachal’s Chamba district
Seven people were killed when an SUV veered off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district on Tuesday, police said.
The accident occurred near the village of Saho in the Bharmour area, about 60 km from the district headquarters. The vehicle was travelling from Bharmour to Chamba when it lost control and plunged into the gorge, police added.
Preliminary investigations suggest driver fatigue may have been a contributing factor, a police officer said. The driver, who was among the deceased, is believed to have lost control on a sharp curve.
Rescue teams reached the spot and recovered the bodies, which have been sent for post-mortem. The injured, if any, were not immediately reported.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased.
Road accidents are common in the mountainous state due to narrow roads and sharp bends. Authorities have urged drivers to exercise caution while travelling in hilly terrain.
