Munish Sood
Mandi
Himachal Pradesh reported another fatal road accident on late Monday night, with three young men losing their lives in a high-speed collision in Mandi district. The incident marks the fourth major accident in the state within the past four days, raising serious concerns over road safety.
The accident took place near Dadour on the Nerchowk–Sundernagar highway under the jurisdiction of Balh police station. According to initial reports, a car carrying five occupants crashed into a stationary hydra machine parked along the roadside. The impact on the passenger side of the vehicle was severe, killing three occupants on the spot, while two others sustained critical injuries and were shifted to a nearby hospital.
The deceased have been identified as Anil Kumar (28) from Palahi village, Rohit Kumar (26) from Andretta, and Subhash Kumar (35), also a resident of Palahi in Balh subdivision of Mandi district. All three were reportedly professional drivers engaged in operating taxis and other commercial vehicles.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the group had travelled late at night to Nerchowk Medical College to inquire about the condition of an acquaintance. After failing to locate the individual there, they suspected that the person might have been shifted to Sundernagar hospital and were heading in that direction when the accident occurred.
Police officials confirmed that the driver and one rear-seat passenger survived the crash, while those seated on the side that collided with the hydra suffered fatal injuries. A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident, including possible overspeeding and low visibility.
Series of Accidents Raises Concern
The Mandi accident adds to a troubling series of road mishaps across Himachal Pradesh in recent days.
On Saturday, four women teachers were killed in Kullu’s Ani subdivision after a tree fell on a moving Bolero during a storm. On Sunday, a bus accident in Nurpur in Kangra district left 28 people injured. Earlier on Monday, four individuals, including a woman teacher and her daughter, died after a car fell into a gorge in Sangrah area of Sirmaur district. In another incident the same day in Barsar in Hamirpur district, a couple died after their vehicle plunged into a gorge, while two others were injured.
With the latest accident in Mandi, the total number of deaths in these incidents has risen to 13, while more than 35 people have been injured.
Safety Under Scrutiny
The recent accidents have once again highlighted concerns over speeding, roadside safety, and the risks associated with driving in hilly terrain, especially at night. Authorities are expected to review safety measures and enforcement on vulnerable road stretches to prevent further loss of life.
