10 killed as vehicle rolls into gorge in Himachal

Chamba, Aug 5: At least 10 people were killed and 17 injured, five of them seriously, after their vehicle fell into a deep gorge in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh late last night, Chowri SDM Rakesh Verma said today.

The Manhindra pick up with 27 people on board fell into a 500-foot deep gorge at Kut, about 40 km from here, while it was on its way to Chamba town from Shahpur in Kangra district to take part in the Minjar Fair, he told the sources here.

He said the dead included a two and a half year old child and four women, three of whom were killed on the spot, while another succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.

Another vehicle following the pick up began rescue operations minutes after the accident and informed the officials of the district administration who rushed to the site within no time along with a medical team, he said.

Mr Verma said the seriously injured, included five children, were referred to Dr RP Medical College and Hospital after being admitted to Chowri Government Hospital where doctors described their condition serious.

The majority of the dead were from Banala village, near Shahpur town of Kangra district, he said.

He said the district administration has announced an immediate relief of Rs 5,000 each to the next of the kin dead and Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 each the injured depending upon their injures.

The SDM said the cause of the accident was, however, not immediately known.

UNI