Munish Sood
MANDI: A man behind the wheel was *killed when a Tata Sumo plunged into a deep gorge in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday (May 31, 2025) morning.
The deceased has been identified as Surender Kumar (40), a resident of Mandap village in Dharampur tehsil of Mandi.
According to initial reports, the vehicle was returning from Drooman village after dropping Surender’s parents, who were on their way to set up a stall at a local fair near Jantri Dhar. The accident occurred near a sharp bend on the Gyuin-Drooman road when the vehicle suddenly lost control and rolled approximately 700 metres down into a steep gorge.
Surender, who was alone in the vehicle at the time, was reportedly thrown out during the crash and sustained serious head injuries after hitting rocks. Locals from nearby villages rushed to the scene and pulled him out of the gorge, but he had already succumbed to his injuries.
The Tata Sumo was found completely wrecked at the bottom of the gorge, with its doors and tyres scattered, indicating the severity of the crash. Police personnel from the Dharampur station reached the spot and have taken possession of the body, which has been sent to Mandap Civil Hospital for post-mortem.
Surender was the son of Krishan Chand, a tailor by profession who also participates in local fairs. The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the village, with residents mourning the untimely death. The exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined. The police have initiated inquest proceedings.
