Shoja Accident in Kullu Claims Four Lives, Three Critical Patients Referred to PGI Chandigarh
The death toll from the devastating accident in the Shoja area of the Banjar sub-division in Kullu district has now reached four, as rescue operations concluded with three critically injured individuals being urgently referred to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) in Chandigarh. The incident, which occurred on Saturday evening, has left the local community and authorities in shock, highlighting the perils of travel in the region's rugged terrain.
Details of the Deceased and Injured
The deceased have been identified as two women and two men: Deepali, a resident of Delhi; Simran, from Kota in Rajasthan; Amit, also from Delhi; and Ayushman, hailing from Patna in Bihar. Their tragic loss underscores the widespread impact of the accident, affecting families across multiple states.
In addition to the fatalities, seventeen other injured persons have been admitted to a local hospital for treatment. The list of injured includes bus driver Liaquat Hussain and passengers such as Abhinav Modi, Karan, Kiyan, Mohit, Ginni, Aditya Narayan, Anchal, Madhup Sharma, Ayushi Sharma, Rohit Mehra, Fiza, Arya Jain, Nikita, Hardeep, Deenu Saifi, Anurag, Shashi, and Arnav. These individuals originate from various regions, including Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan, reflecting the diverse group affected by this calamity.
Accident and Rescue Operation
The accident involved a tempo traveller carrying a total of 23 people, including two children, which fell into a deep gorge near Sojha village in the Banjar sub-division around 9 pm on Saturday. The vehicle's plunge into the ravine triggered immediate panic and distress among locals, who quickly alerted authorities.
A police team, assisted by local residents, launched a swift rescue operation. All injured individuals were carefully extracted from the gorge and transported to the road, from where they were initially sent to a local hospital in Banjar. Due to the severity of injuries, they were subsequently referred to the Regional Hospital in Kullu for advanced medical care. According to an official statement, three of the injured were in critical condition and required specialized treatment, leading to their referral to PGI in Chandigarh.
Relief Efforts and Official Statements
Kullu Deputy Commissioner Anurag Chandra Sharma provided updates on the relief measures being undertaken. In a statement, he confirmed that immediate financial assistance of Rs 5,000 each has been disbursed to six injured persons, totaling Rs 30,000, to help cover initial medical expenses and support their recovery.
Furthermore, the DC announced that a relief amount of Rs 25,000 has been released to the family of one of the deceased, Deepali, as part of the government's efforts to provide solace and aid during this difficult time. The bodies of all four deceased have been transferred to the mortuary of the Regional Hospital in Kullu, where formalities and further investigations are being conducted.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in mountainous regions and the importance of road safety measures. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with ongoing support for the affected families and efforts to prevent such accidents in the future.
