Munish Sood
Mandi
A tragic road accident claimed three lives and left six others injured in Kullu district on Wednesday afternoon when a Tata Sumo carrying villagers returning after voting plunged nearly 350 feet into a deep gorge in the Lag Valley area.
According to information received, all nine occupants of the vehicle had cast their votes in the Panchayati Raj elections and were on their way home when the accident occurred. The Tata Sumo reportedly went out of control on a stretch of road in Lag Valley and veered off the road before crashing into the gorge.
A massive rescue operation was immediately launched by local residents, police personnel and the district administration. The injured were pulled out of the wreckage and rushed to the Regional Hospital, Kullu, where they are undergoing treatment. The condition of some of the injured is stated to be serious.
Expressing deep grief over the loss of lives, Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the accident.
Speaking to the media, Thakur said he was personally present at the Regional Hospital and monitoring the situation closely. He stated that despite it being a holiday, all doctors and medical staff had been called in to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured.
“The entire administration is on alert. Police and district officials reached the spot immediately after the accident, and the whole system is working round the clock to deal with the situation,” he said.
The MLA further informed that the exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined and is being investigated. He added that the driver is currently not in a condition to give any statement regarding the incident.
Thakur said every effort is being made to provide advanced medical care locally and expressed hope that some of the seriously injured patients may not have to be referred outside the district if their condition can be managed with the available facilities.
The tragic incident has cast a pall of gloom over the region, particularly as the victims were returning after participating in the democratic process. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances that led to the accident.
