Tourist who drove his Thar in icy Lahaul river to avoid long Xmas traffic slapped ₹3,500 challan
TNR Desk
DHARAMSHALA: An act of daredevilry in which a tourist, to avoid long traffic queues, drove his Thar jeep into the icy waters of Bhaga river at Tandi Sangam to take a shorter route has cost the car owner dear as the Lahaul-Spiti district police in Himachal Pradesh has slapped a challan of Rs 3,500.
The incident, which unfolded on Sunday evening, left onlookers and authorities perplexed at the audacity of the tourist to execute such a stunt amidst sub-zero temperatures as there was snow all around.
The video capturing the reckless adventure has since gone viral on social media, showcasing the car traversing the frigid Bhaga river in a cinematic fashion. Several youths were reported to be present at the scene, witnessing the unusual spectacle unfold. Fortunately, the stunt did not result in any damage.
Mayank Chaudhary, Lahaul-Spiti Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident, stating that the video had garnered widespread attention. The footage depicts a Thar vehicle navigating through the river.
Taking cognisance of the potential dangers posed by such stunts, a challan amounting to Rs 3,500 has been issued against the vehicle owner under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. This penalty serves as a deterrent to discourage others from attempting similar risky manoeuvres. In an effort to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future, the district police have deployed personnel at the site where the stunt was performed.
