A devastating road accident in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul and Spiti district claimed at least eight lives and left five others injured when a Tata Sumo vehicle veered off the mountainous road and plunged into a deep gorge. The incident occurred on the afternoon of July 24 near the village of Sissu on the Manali-Leh highway, a stretch known for its treacherous curves and loose gravel.
Details of the Accident
According to local police officials, the overloaded Tata Sumo was en route from Keylong to Manali when the driver lost control on a sharp bend. The vehicle careened off the road, tumbling approximately 200 feet into the gorge below. Rescue operations were initiated immediately by the local administration, with teams from the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and nearby villagers reaching the spot within an hour.
“The vehicle was completely mangled. We had to use cutters to extract the trapped passengers. Eight bodies have been recovered, and five seriously injured persons have been airlifted to the regional hospital in Manali,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (Lahaul and Spiti) Rajesh Kumar.
Victims and Rescue Efforts
The deceased include three women and two children, all residents of Keylong and nearby villages. The injured were identified as a mix of local passengers and two tourists from Punjab. All injured are reported to be in critical condition, with one person suffering multiple fractures and head trauma. The SDRF team used ropes and stretchers to bring up the bodies and survivors from the steep slope.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. He also directed the district administration to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured.
Rash Driving and Overloading Blamed
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accident was caused by rash driving and overloading of the vehicle, which had a capacity of nine passengers but was carrying 13 at the time of the crash. The driver, who is among the deceased, may have been driving at high speed on the winding road. The local administration has intensified checking of overloaded vehicles on the highway, which is a popular tourist route connecting the remote Lahaul and Spiti valley to the rest of the state.
“This is a recurring tragedy. We have repeatedly warned tourists and locals not to overload vehicles and to drive slowly. The road conditions are challenging, especially after rains,” said Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the region, Anil Sharma, who was part of the rescue team.
Government Response and Safety Measures
The state government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and has promised strict action against those found negligent. The road accident also highlights the poor safety infrastructure on the Manali-Leh highway, which lacks adequate crash barriers and warning signs at dangerous curves. Local residents have demanded that the government install safety nets and improve the road surface to prevent future accidents.
The accident is the second major one on this stretch in the past month. Earlier, a jeep carrying tourists had overturned near Jispa, killing two people. The repeated incidents have raised concerns about the lack of enforcement of traffic rules in the region.
Impact on Local Community
The tragedy has plunged the small town of Keylong into mourning. Schools and shops remained closed on Sunday as a mark of respect. The local temple held a special prayer session for the departed souls. The accident also disrupts the fragile tourism season, which is the main source of income for many families in the area.
As the district administration continues with relief and rehabilitation efforts, the focus remains on preventing such mishaps in the future. “We will conduct a road safety audit of the entire Manali-Leh highway and recommend measures to the National Highways Authority of India,” said Deputy Commissioner of Lahaul and Spiti, Neeraj Kumar.
