A devastating road accident in the hill terrains of Himachal Pradesh claimed the life of a young school teacher and left four family members injured, including two toddlers. The tragedy unfolded on Sunday morning along the Chamba-Sanghani road in Chamba district when a private vehicle lost control on a winding mountain stretch and plunged deep into a roadside ravine. The deceased has been identified as 33-year-old Puneeta Devi. Her husband, six-year-old daughter, three-year-old son, and an elderly relative sustained serious bodily trauma in the fall, with the critically injured young boy being referred to an advanced medical facility in Kangra district.
Car Veered off Road Near Shalyund Nallah at 11 AM
The mishap took place around 11:00 AM on Sunday as the family was journeying from their ancestral village Bani toward Salooni. Inside the car were 38-year-old Harindra Kumar, his wife Puneeta Devi, their daughter Shanvi, aged six, their three-year-old son Samarth, and Harindra's 56-year-old sister-in-law Rekha, wife of Daulat Ram. While navigating the stretch near Shalyund Nallah, the driver lost grip over the steering wheel. The car veered off the asphalt and tumbled down into a steep gorge, reducing the vehicle to a mangled shell amid the jagged rocks below.
Immediate Rescue Efforts by Nearby Villagers
Alerted by the loud crash and cries for help, local residents and passersby immediately scrambled down the challenging slope to assist the victims. Showing immense courage, the locals managed to extricate all five passengers from the wreckage. The injured were hurriedly transported in local vehicles and an ambulance to the Civil Hospital in Salooni. Upon arrival, medical personnel attended to the victims, but Puneeta Devi succumbed to severe impact injuries and was formally pronounced dead by attending physicians.
Toddler in Critical Condition Moved to Tanda Medical College
Harindra Kumar, his young daughter Shanvi, and relative Rekha received emergency medical aid at the Salooni Civil Hospital before being transferred to the Medical College in Chamba for advanced monitoring. While the three older patients showed stable vital signs despite their injuries, the condition of three-year-old Samarth continued to worsen due to critical trauma. Given the delicate state of the child, doctors at Chamba Medical College referred him on Sunday afternoon to Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda, located in Kangra district, for intensive pediatric intervention.
Community Mourns the Loss of Dedicated Educator
Puneeta Devi worked as a teacher at Tikroo School and was widely respected for her academic dedication, while her husband Harindra Kumar serves as a clerk at Salooni College. The untimely demise of the educator has plunged the community of Bani village and the wider Salooni area into mourning. Expressing profound grief over the accident, Rajesh from Palampur recalled Puneeta as an exceptionally bright student from Dyour school who consistently secured top ranks in her class. He noted that he had met Puneeta just four days earlier at his office in Sundla during Rangotsav, expressing utter disbelief at her sudden and tragic passing.
Absence of Crash Barriers Sparks Public Outcry
The fatal accident has reignited serious concerns regarding road safety infrastructure on hazardous mountain routes across Himachal Pradesh. Local residents noted that the absence of protective roadside barriers near Shalyund Nallah directly contributed to the severity of the disaster, as a proper barricade could have halted the vehicle's descent. Salooni Panchayat head Madan Mohan Sharma highlighted that this specific section of the Chamba-Sanghani road completely lacks crash barriers. Sharma stated that the local administration had previously formally informed the Public Works Department about the perilous condition of this stretch, but no remedial measures had been implemented.
Police Launch Inquiry into Mishap
Law enforcement authorities mobilized shortly after receiving reports of the car falling into the ravine. DSP Ranjan Sharma confirmed that an investigative unit led by the local Station House Officer reached the crash site to secure the area and initiate regulatory procedures. The officer stated that the deceased's body would undergo a post-mortem examination before being handed over to the grieving relatives for final rites. Meanwhile, police investigators are actively examining whether the loss of control was due to mechanical failure, poor road conditions, or human error.
