Horror on Hills: Tourist Vehicle Plunges into Gorge Near Jalori Pass, 4 Dead, 18 Injured in Kullu Himachal.
Shimla:
In a devastating incident that has once again exposed the dangers of mountain travel, a tourist vehicle met with a fatal accident near Jalori Pass on the Aut–Luhri highway in Kullu district on Saturday evening, leaving four people dead and 18 others seriously injured.
The vehicle, carrying 22 passengers—including 20 adults and two children—lost control near Jaloda Mod on the treacherous Sojha–Ghyagi stretch and plunged into a deep gorge. The impact of the fall was so severe that it turned the scenic route into a scene of chaos and fear, with cries for help echoing through the valley.
According to officials, panic spread quickly in the area as local residents rushed to the accident spot and began rescue efforts even before emergency teams arrived. Their timely intervention proved crucial in saving lives.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Banjar, Pankaj Sharma, confirmed that four victims—including two men and two women—lost their lives in the accident. Initially, three bodies were recovered, but continued search operations led to the discovery of another casualty, raising the death toll to four.
Rescue teams pulled out 18 injured passengers from the wreckage and shifted them to the Community Health Centre in Banjar, where several are reported to be in critical condition. The injured bore severe trauma, highlighting the intensity of the accident.
The rescue operation turned into a race against time as teams from the administration, police, fire services, health department, and local volunteers battled harsh weather and the perilous terrain to reach victims trapped in the gorge. Poor visibility and unstable slopes significantly hampered operations.
While the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, preliminary inputs suggest that the narrow, winding road combined with adverse weather conditions may have led to the vehicle losing control.
Authorities have launched a detailed probe into the incident, even as search and verification operations continue to ensure no passenger remains unaccounted for.
The tragedy has cast a shadow over the region, raising serious concerns over road safety measures on high-altitude routes like Jalori Pass, which continue to witness such fatal mishaps.
