Five individuals, including a 15-year-old boy, lost their lives when their car plunged into a gorge on the Barot-Ghatadani link road late Saturday night. The victims, identified as Ganga Singh (27), Sagar (15), Karam Singh (33), Gulab Singh (33), and Rajesh Kumar (23), were all residents of Padhar Tehsil in Mandi district.
According to police reports, the tragic incident occurred around 10 pm as the group was returning home from a marriage ceremony. The driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road and tumble into the gorge.
Local residents discovered the accident on Sunday morning and promptly alerted authorities. Police officials arrived at the scene and recovered the bodies, which were subsequently sent for post-mortem examination.
Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma stated that a case under section 106 (causing death by negligence) and 281 (rash driving) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered, and further investigations are underway.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and assured them of all possible support. The district administration has also provided immediate financial relief of Rs 25,000 to each of the families affected by the tragedy.
(With inputs from PTI)
