Three separate road accidents in Kullu and Mandi districts took a toll of 12 lives in Himachal Pradesh on Monday. The most tragic accident occurred in Kullu, where an Alto car was pushed down the chasm by the rolling debris following a landslide on Nirmand road near Rampur.
Six people including a woman and children died in the accident as the car fell down in the gorge. The mishap took place on Sunday night but was noticed on Monday morning. The police evacuated the mutilated bodies of the victims with the help of Army Jawans as heavy boulder had piled up over the wreckage of car.
In another accident, a Tempo-traveller carrying around 15 tourists skidded off the road at Kango area of Sundernagar in Mandi distirct on Monday morning. As per the locals, the driver lost control over the wheel of the van and it fell off the gorge. Four travelers died on the spot, while one was declared dead in the hospital.
In another accident in Kullu, a car collided with a truck stationed on the roadside. There were four people in the car. Two boys and two girls were travelling in the car and the mishap happened when the driver of the car lost control over his vehicle. The car rammed into the stationary truck resulting in death of Anushka, resident of Mandi.
The car was on way back to Mandi from Manali as all the occupants were from Mandi. The other three present in car also got injuries and were taken to Regional hospital for medical assistance.
In another mishap, a five-year old school boy died as the school van he was travelling in fell into a deep gorge near Banjar subdivision in Kullu.
With increase in road network in the hill state, the number of the road accidents are rising. In the first ten months of the current year, 999 people have lost their lives in road accidents in the hills. As per the police records, 2583 road accidents have been reported in the state before Oct. 31. The number of casualties in road accidents was 1163 in 2016, with 3153 reported road accidents.