Five killed as utility vehicle falls into a gorge in HP

Shimla, May 16 (UNI) Five people were killed after their utility vehicle fell into a deep gorge at Ghanvi, about 162 km from here, in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh today, government officials said.

Rampur SDM DK Rattan told UNI here the accident occurred at about 1300 hrs when the vehicle was on its way to Rampur from Juri in the district.

Local people helped the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and fire personnel in pulling out the dead bodies from the mangled vehicle from the 700-metre gorge, he said.

The dead have been identified as Surinder Singh, 32, Balwant Singh, 34, Mehar Singh, 22, Ram Krishen, 55, and Jeetinder, 21.

The cause of the accident was, however, not immediately known, Mr Rattan said, adding a case had been registered and investigations were on.

The SDM said the district administration had announced an immediate relief of Rs 10,000 each to the next of the kin of the dead.

The bodies were handed over to their relatives after post mortem Mr Rattan said.

UNI