Thirteen people were killed and two others injured in a tragic road accident in the tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh today. The accident occurred near Kadhunala-Rahauli on the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) road under Udaipur Police Station when a massive boulder suddenly rolled down from the hillside and crushed a Tata Sumo vehicle.
According to initial reports, a total of 15 people, including the driver, were travelling in the vehicle. As the vehicle reached the Kadhunala area near Rahauli, a huge rock suddenly fell from the hillside and struck it. The impact was so severe that the vehicle was completely mangled, resulting in the death of 13 occupants on the spot. The two injured passengers were rescued and shifted to a hospital for treatment.
Soon after the incident, police, district administration officials and local residents launched an immediate rescue and relief operation. Rescue teams extricated the occupants trapped inside the vehicle and ensured that the injured were taken to hospital.
Deputy Commissioner of Lahaul-Spiti Kiran Bhadana said, the mishap occurred in the border area between Pangi in Chamba district and Lahaul-Spiti district. According to preliminary information, all the deceased were residents of the Pangi area of Chamba district. The Deputy Commissioner added that personnel from Tindi Police Post and Udaipur Police Station are at the site carrying out the necessary legal formalities. The process of identifying the deceased is underway. After identification, the bodies will be sent for post-mortem examination and subsequently handed over to their families.
President Droupadi Murmu has expressed grief over the tragic incident in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district. In a social media post, the President conveyed her deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. President Murmu also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
