Two killed as car plunges 800 ft into gorge on Pathankot-Bharmour highway
Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
Two killed as car plunges 800 ft into gorge on Pathankot-Bharmour highway
Dalhousie, June 17,
Two persons lost their lives in a tragic road accident on the Pathankot-Bharmour National Highway (NH-154A) near Banikhet in Chamba district on Tuesday night when their car veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge.
According to police sources, the car was travelling towards Chamba when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle near Chhatri Mor, a sharp bend close to the Dam View Point.
The vehicle rolled nearly 800 feet down the hillside before reaching the Chouhra road below.
The impact of the crash was so severe that the vehicle was completely mangled. Both occupants of the car died on the spot.
Preliminary reports suggest that the deceased were residents of the Saru area of Chamba. Their identities were yet to be officially confirmed at the time of filing this report.
On receiving information about the accident, Dalhousie DSP Mayank Sharma rushed to the spot along with a police team and supervised the rescue operation.
With the assistance of local residents, police personnel retrieved the bodies from the deep gorge. The rescue operation continued till late in the night due to the difficult terrain.
DSP Sharma said that the exact cause of the accident was being investigated. The bodies would be sent for post-mortem examination and the families of the deceased had been informed.
Meanwhile, local residents alleged that the absence of crash barriers at the accident-prone Chhatri Mor contributed to the tragedy.
They claimed that had proper safety barriers been installed, the vehicle might not have fallen into the gorge and the lives of the two young men could possibly have been saved.
Residents said several stretches of NH-154A pass through steep slopes and sharp curves, but adequate safety measures are lacking. They urged the authorities to identify vulnerable locations and install crash barriers, warning signs and reflectors to prevent similar accidents in future.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Civil) Dalhousie Anil Bhardwaj said the matter had come to his notice and necessary directions would be issued to the concerned department to ensure appropriate road safety measures on the highway.
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