Were on their way to attend a friend’s wedding
Munish Sood
Mandi:
Two Indian Army personnel lost their lives after their car plunged nearly 600 metres into a deep gorge in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. The soldiers were on their way to attend a friend’s wedding at Bregan village when the accident occurred.
The police identified the deceased as Nitesh (32), a resident of Tarna Hill in Thanehra Mohalla, and Mahendra Kumar, a resident of Doosra Khaabu in Balh. Both men were serving in the Army and had returned home on leave for the wedding celebration.
According to officials, the accident took place around 8.15 pm. Another car carrying their friends, which was travelling ahead of them, reached the Darlag area and noticed that the soldiers’ vehicle was no longer following. Concerned, they tried calling the duo, but their phones went unanswered.
A short while later, a woman picked up the call and informed them that the phone had been found lying near a vehicle that had fallen into a gorge. Alarmed by the news, the friends immediately drove back to the spot.
On descending into the ravine, they discovered the car completely mangled. Both Nitesh and Mahendra were found outside the vehicle, already deceased. The police said the impact of the fall was so severe that the soldiers died on the spot.
A police team reached the location soon after being alerted. The bodies were recovered with the help of locals and sent for post-mortem examination. Preliminary findings suggest the car skidded off the road after the driver lost control on a sharp curve.
The police have registered a case and started inquesr proceedings. Further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Local residents and relatives expressed deep shock at the loss of the two young men, both of whom were known for their dedication to duty and close ties to the community. The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by steep and narrow roads in Himachal’s hilly terrain, where accidents continue to be reported frequently.
