Munish Sood
Mandi
Five friends were returning from a wedding in Kumarsain when the vehicle met with the fatal accident near Nimla in the early hours of Tuesday
Four people were k*illed and another seriously injured after their car plunged into a gorge on National Highway-305 between Haripur and Nimla in Ani area of Kullu district in the early hours of Tuesday.
The accident occurred between 3 am and 3:30 am, when the five friends were reportedly returning to their village Jabaun after attending a wedding ceremony at Badagaon in Shimla district’s Kumarsain. All five occupants were from the Jabaun-Karana area.
According to preliminary information, Rahul, son of Jagdish Chand; Vikas alias Vicky, son of Hira Singh; Suresh Kumar, son of Mohan Lal; Balakrishna, son of Rikhi Ram; and Goonjan, son of Ram Krishan were travelling in the vehicle. Four of them died in the accident, while Suresh Kumar survived but sustained serious injuries.
The crash triggered an immediate rescue response, with local residents, police personnel, the gram panchayat leadership and Ani MLA Lokender Kumar reaching the spot and assisting in relief and rescue operations. The injured person was shifted to hospital for treatment.
The exact circumstances that led to the vehicle veering off the road and falling into the gorge have not yet been established. Police have initiated an investigation, while the local patwari has submitted a report to the administration.
The tragedy has plunged the Jabaun-Karana area into mourning, as the victims had been returning home after attending a wedding together.
Ani MLA Lokender Kumar expressed grief over the deaths and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families, while praying for the speedy recovery of the injured person.
The accident comes amid continuing concerns over road safety on the hill highways of Himachal Pradesh. However, the specific cause of this accident will be clear only after the police investigation is completed.
