A tourist was killed and three others were injured in a horrific road accident near the north portal of the Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh after their Mahindra Scorpio veered off the road and crashed into an under-construction bridge. The impact was so severe that iron rods from the unfinished structure pierced through the vehicle, leaving it mangled.
According to police, the accident occurred at around 10 pm when the group was travelling from Manali to Lahaul. Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver allegedly failed to negotiate a sharp turn shortly after exiting the north portal of the Atal Tunnel, causing the SUV to break through roadside barriers and plunge towards the Chandra river.
The deceased has been identified as 34-year-old Kailash, a resident of Sikar district in Rajasthan. The injured include Rajendra and driver Siddharth, both from Sikar, and Aditya from Lakhimpur in Uttar Pradesh. All the injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Rescue teams comprising police, firefighters and local administration officials rushed to the spot soon after receiving information about the accident. The rescue operation proved challenging as the vehicle was trapped within the iron framework of the under-construction bridge. After considerable effort, rescuers managed to extricate the occupants and shift them to hospital.
Police suspect overspeeding to be the primary cause of the accident, though an investigation is underway to ascertain all circumstances surrounding the crash. Authorities have once again urged tourists to avoid night travel in hilly regions and strictly adhere to speed limits, especially during the monsoon season when roads become slippery and visibility is reduced.
