Seven killed in road accident in Lahaul Spiti

Shimla, Jan 27 (UNI) Seven people, including four women, were killed and two injured when their vehicle fell into a river near Tandi in Lahaul Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh this afternoon, police sources said.

The Mahindra Max fell into the Bhaga River, about five km from the district headquarter of Keylong, at about 1410 hrs, killing six people on the spot and injuring two others.

The sources said the seventh person succumbed to his injuries on way to Keylong Government Hospital. The vehicle was on its way to Pattan Valley in the district.

The injured, identified as Vikram and Man Bahadur, have been admitted to Keylong Referral Hospital where the doctors described their condition serious, the sources said.

The dead have been identified as Anita, Sunita, Bahaduri Devi, Shiv Lal, Vicki, Sunita and Surender, the sources said, adding that investigations were on to ascertain the cause of the accident.

No senior district official was available for comment since they had left for the accident site to supervise relief and rescue operation, which was being hampered due to a mild snowfall in the district last night.

State Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and local MLA Raghuvir Singh Thakur have expressed grief and shock over the incident, while conveying their condolences to the bereaved families.

UNI