A severe road accident in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh claimed the life of a woman and left three others injured on Thursday. The incident took place on the Gaihra-Maraur road near Chaura Kaichi when a pickup van on its way to collect apples lost control while navigating a sharp bend and plunged into a 400-meter deep gorge. Local residents and emergency services rushed to the spot shortly after the accident to conduct rescue operations.
Details of the Accident and Rescue Operation
According to available information, the pickup vehicle was traveling toward Maraur when the driver lost control of the wheel near the Chaura Kaichi curve. The vehicle veered off the mountain road and tumbled down the steep 400-meter ravine. Hearing the crash, villagers nearby quickly informed the local police station and descended into the gorge to render immediate aid. Police personnel arrived promptly and collaborated with locals to extract the occupants from the wreckage.
Identity of Victims and Casualties
The deceased woman was identified as 55-year-old Kajno Devi, wife of Krishan Ram (also cited as Krishan Chand), a resident of Dumala village under the Piyuhara Gram Panchayat. She succumbed to her fatal injuries at the scene before medical help could arrive. The three injured individuals rescued from the gorge include 32-year-old Alka Devi from Dumala village, 40-year-old Suresh Kumar, son of Kehar Singh, residing in Kuthed village, and the 28-year-old driver Lalit Kumar (also referred to as Ajay Kumar), son of Pawan Kumar, hailing from Suiya village in Gaihra.
Medical Care and Emergency Referral
All injured victims were hurriedly moved to Medical College Chamba for emergency care. Attending physicians declared Kajno Devi dead upon arrival. Among the survivors, Alka Devi suffered severe internal chest trauma, prompting doctors to stabilize her condition before referring her to Medical College Tanda for advanced specialized treatment. The other two injured individuals, Suresh Kumar and driver Lalit Kumar, remain admitted at Medical College Chamba. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Chamba Dr. Jalam Singh confirmed that four people were aboard the vehicle, noting that one woman lost her life on the spot while the remaining three are receiving medical treatment.
Police Investigation and Next Steps
Local police have taken custody of Kajno Devi's body for legal proceedings and post-mortem examination. The body will be handed over to her family members once autopsies and official formalities are completed. Law enforcement officials have launched an investigation into the exact cause of the crash, examining whether driver error, poor road conditions on the sharp bend, or mechanical issues caused the vehicle to plunge off the road.
