Munish Sood
MANDI: A holiday meant to create memories turned into a nightmare for five-year-old twin sisters Anika and Ambika, whose family was torn apart in a horrific road accident near the Rohtang Pass on June 16. Their mother lost her life on the spot, their toddler brother is on ventilator support and their father, Amit, is now battling for life at AIIMS-Bilaspur in a highly critical condition.
This tragedy is not just another entry in a road accident log — it is a powerful reminder of the long-term devastation these crashes leave behind. For Anika and Ambika, life changed in a split second, and now they face a future clouded with uncertainty, grief, and loneliness.
The Tempo Traveller, part of a three-day Manali tour, was carrying 24 tourists from various states when it met with an accident near Khoksar in Lahaul-Spiti around 7 pm on June 16. Two persons, including the girls’ mother Monika, died on the spot. Seven others, including their father and baby brother, were seriously injured.
Amit, the father, was shifted to AIIMS-Bilaspur in the early hours of June 17, where he remains on life support. The couple’s youngest child — a boy not yet two years old — also sustained grave injuries and is currently battling for life in a private hospital in Manali.
As for the twin daughters, their silent, tearless grief has shaken even seasoned volunteers. “They sat quietly through the night — not a tear, not a word. It’s the kind of silence that says everything,” said a local volunteer who stayed with them for over 24 hours. “You can see the weight of the world on their tiny shoulders.”
Lives shattered beyond the scene of accident
While the focus in such cases often remains on fatalities, the Rohtang tragedy exposes the larger, more enduring damage — the psychological trauma and structural collapse of entire families. With their mother gone, father critical and brother barely clinging to life, the girls are now at the mercy of fate, care systems, and community goodwill.
This is not an isolated case. Every year, over 1.5 lakh people die in road accidents in India. But the real toll is measured in those who survive — the children left parentless, the families pushed into financial and emotional ruin, and the young lives whose futures are rewritten overnight.
In the immediate aftermath, the local response was swift and compassionate. Due to the proximity of an army camp and rapid support from the Manali police, rescue efforts were expedited. The injured were transported to both private and government hospitals.
Local leaders and volunteers — including Manali Municipal councillor Chandra Pradhan, national youth awardee Sumit Thakur, Manali Taxi Union chairman Chander Sen, and social workers like Nupur Rai and members of the Rotaract Club — stepped up with food, care, and emotional support. Two volunteers even accompanied the critically injured Amit to Bilaspur, ensuring he received urgent medical attention until his relatives could arrive.
“Everyone is doing their best to help, but the reality is, this family may never be whole again,” said another volunteer.
