Munish Sood
Mandi/Una: One person was *killed while 30 others were injured when a double-decker pickup truck carrying devotees veered off the road and fell into a 20-foot-deep gorge near the renowned Pirnigah Temple in Himachal Pradesh’s Una district late Thursday (June 12, 2025) night.
The victims were part of a religious group from Majitha in Punjab’s Amritsar district. The group had visited Baba Balak Nath Temple and Dera Baba Vadbhag Singh earlier in the day and was en route to Pirnigah when the accident occurred.
The overloaded vehicle, modified with wooden planks to accommodate more passengers, reportedly lost control about 1.5 km from the temple. The pickup overturned and plunged into the gorge, triggering panic and cries for help that drew nearby residents to the scene.
Local villagers, aided by emergency services, including 108 ambulances and a private bus, launched immediate rescue operations. The injured were transported to the Regional Hospital in Una, where one person was declared dead on arrival. Two critically injured devotees were referred to the PGI-Chandigarh.
Medical Superintendent Dr Sanjay Mankotia of the Una Regional Hospital confirmed the incident and said that nearly 30 injured individuals were brought in. “Many sustained fractures and serious head injuries. All are currently undergoing treatment and the hospital staff responded promptly upon receiving the alert,” he said.
Eyewitnesses and survivors claimed the vehicle was dangerously overcrowded. “The pickup had been fitted with wooden planks to create a double-decker arrangement,” said an injured devotee. “We were returning after offering prayers when the vehicle lost control and fell into the gorge.
The local police reached the site shortly after the accident and have initiated an investigation into the cause of the accident, including whether safety and capacity norms were violated.
The Pirnigah Temple, a popular pilgrimage site in north India, sees heavy footfall during the summer months. Authorities have urged pilgrims to exercise caution and avoid overcrowded transport arrangements, especially in hilly terrains.
