Reckless tourist driving claims another life nr Atal Tunnel, raises questions over road safety
Shimla, July 3
Even as Himachal Pradesh battles monsoon-triggered landslides, slush and falling boulders on its highways, reckless driving and dangerous stunts by tourists continue to claim lives, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws.
A day after police cracked down on tourists performing risky stunts through sunroofs and windows of moving vehicles, a youth from Rajasthan was killed in a high-speed crash near the south portal of the Atal Tunnel. Three others travelling in the Scorpio SUV sustained critical injuries.
According to preliminary reports, the SUV, carrying tourists from Rajasthan, was allegedly being driven at high speed when the driver lost control. The vehicle broke through a roadside barrier and rammed into a concrete pillar of an under-construction structure near the tunnel, killing one occupant on the spot.
The tragedy comes amid a series of incidents involving tourists flouting traffic norms across the state. In recent weeks, police have issued challans to visitors for standing through sunroofs, leaning out of moving vehicles to shoot selfies and reels, driving through river channels and performing dangerous stunts on mountain roads.
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Authorities say the trend is particularly worrying as the monsoon has made roads across Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti and other hill districts extremely hazardous. Slippery road surfaces, potholes, mudslides, overflowing drains and falling rocks have already posed formidable challenges for highway maintenance agencies and traffic police.
Despite these risks, some tourists continue to overspeed and indulge in reckless driving to create social media content, often ignoring basic safety norms.
Local residents have expressed anger over such irresponsible behaviour, saying it endangers not only the occupants of the vehicles but also other road users and emergency responders. They have urged the government to impose heavier penalties, suspend driving licences of repeat offenders and prosecute those whose reckless acts threaten public safety.
Police have appealed to tourists to treat the Himalayan roads with caution, stressing that mountain highways demand disciplined driving rather than thrill-seeking. Officials warned that strict action would continue against violators to prevent further loss of life.
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