A tragic road accident in Bageshwar district claimed two lives and left four others injured on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 8:15 am on the Tudtudiya-Bhairon Link Road in Kapkot block, when a mini-truck carrying five women veered off the road and plunged nearly 20 metres into a gorge.
Victims and Rescue Operation
The deceased have been identified as the driver, Bhagat Singh (33), a resident of Kharbagad village, and Surma Devi (56), a mid-day meal worker at a primary school from Khadgera-Raithal village. Singh died on the way to the hospital, while Devi succumbed to her injuries during transfer from the district hospital to a higher medical centre. The four injured women are currently undergoing treatment at the district hospital.
Local residents alerted the police immediately after the accident, and a rescue operation was launched promptly.
Investigation and Allegations
Police have initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Kapkot circle officer Ajay Sah stated, "Preliminary investigation suggests the vehicle went out of control before falling into a nearly 20m-deep gorge. An inquiry has been initiated and further action will be taken based on the findings."
Meanwhile, local representative Harish Aithani alleged that the accident was a result of inadequate crash barriers and the poor condition of the road. He pointed out that repeated mishaps on this stretch highlight serious shortcomings in road safety measures.
