3 dead, 21 injured in accident in HP

Mandi, Jun 7 (UNI) At least three pilgrims were killed and 21 injured, 19 of them seriously, after the truck they were travelling in, fell in to a gorge in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh today, police sources said.

The accident occurred at Sudyani village, about 25 km from here, in the district at about 1500 hrs, while they were returning after paying their obeisance at Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur district.

The sources said the truck fell into the gorge after the children setting next to the driver fiddled with its gear after the truck driver had got down to have a cup of tea.

The truck first hit and damaged two cars before it rolled into a gorge, killing three women, identified as Kasaulya, 65, Chindi Devi, 70, and Kangdu, 65.

The sources said all the dead and injured were residents of Patha village.

A case has been registered and investigations were on, they added.

UNI XC AS DB 1913