Three Delhi men die as car falls into deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA: Three men died while two others sustained injuries after a car they were travelling in fell into a deep gorge at Loraha near Gangtoli of Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh on Monday.

The deceased have been identified as Rahul (26), Vishal Kumar (22), Narayan Singh (36). The injured — Gianinder Mann (36) and Ali Hussain (24) — sustained injuries and were referred to a hospital in Paonta Sahib.

Police said the incident took place when the driver of the Swift Dzire, going towards Shilai, lost control over the vehicle.

Dalip Singh, assistant sub-inspector of Shilai police station, said police with the help of local residents launched a rescue operation. He said the bodies of the deceased had been sent for postmortem and injured were taken to the primary health centre in Shilai, from where they were referred to Paonta Sahib.

He said a case had been registered under IPC sections 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing hurt and endangering life) and 304 A (causing death by negligence).

Mann was driving the car which was owned by Hussain.

Describing the accident, Hussain’s father Dalbir said when the car rolled down the gorge, Hussain, Rahul and Mann got stuck in a tree while Kumar and Singh fell 400 meters down the hill. “My son has sustained fractures in both his legs and one arm. He will be operated upon in Delhi,” he said.

Kumar’s father Upendra, who runs a manufacturing unit in Nangloi, said the incident took place around 2.30 am. “My son and his three other friends had planned to gather at Mann’s house and then drive to Ponta Saheb. Vishal and Mann were preparing for UPSC exam,” Kumar said.

He said he tried to call Vishal when he reached office on Monday morning but his number was switched off. “Around 12 pm, I got a call from Mann’s brother who informed me about the incident. When I spoke to the police, they said that my son and two of his friends — Singh and Rahul — had died while Mann and Hussain have survived with critical injuries,” the father said.

“I always told him to not to go on such a trip. This time, I allowed him and the tragedy took place,” Kumar said.

Mann’s brother Hari Om, who was informed about the accident around 5 am, said he and his other family members are on their way to Ponta Saheb, where Mann has been admitted for treatment.

Family members of Narayan Singh and Rahul, however, could not be contacted.