12 of wedding parties die in HP

SHIMLA/DHARAMSHALA: At least 12 members of two marriage parties were killed in separate accidents in Kullu and Manali districts of Himachal Pradesh.

In the first incident, six people, who were part of a ‘baraat’ were killed when their car was hit by a massive landslide at Overi in Kullu district on Sunday night.

Kullu ASP Nischint Negi said army soldiers and a police team from Brau police station rushed to the spot after receiving information about the accident. “The car was crushed under heavy boulders. The rescue team had a tough time retrieving bodies.”

In another mishap at Kangu in Mandi district on the Chandigarh-manali highway, six people of a wedding party were killed and eight injured after a Tempo Traveller plunged into a gorge.

The deceased were identified as Mahender Pal Dakkar, Rani, Nilam Meddi, Dharmpal and Sashi Oberai — all residents of Ambala Cantt in Haryana. A body is yet to be identified.

Mandi superintendent of police (SP) Ashok Kumar said victims were members of a wedding party and were returning home after attending a function at a hotel in Sundernagar.

He said the driver lost control while trying to save a motorcycle coming from the opposite side. Police have registered a case.

2 MORE KILLED IN KULLU

Two more people were killed in Kullu district in separate incidents. A woman of Mandi district died on the spot after a car she was travelling in collided with a stationary truck. Three other persons in the car were also injured. In another mishap, a child was killed when a car driven by his father skidded off the road in Banjar area of the district, killing him on the spot.