A tragic road accident in Nainital district claimed the lives of five people, including four members of a family and their driver, on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred when their car lost control and plunged into a deep gorge near Bhowali, while they were en route to Kainchi dham.
Details of the Incident
The accident took place around 2:15 pm on the Sanatorium-Ratighat Bypass Road, approximately 500 meters east of Dhaila village. The family was heading to a relative's resort in Bhowali village before proceeding to Kainchi dham. According to police, the driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating a sharp bend. The car reportedly launched nearly 20 meters into the air before crashing into a tree and tumbling into the ravine.
Rescue Operation
A joint rescue operation was immediately launched by local police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and local residents. The combined efforts helped in retrieving the victims from the gorge.
Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as Bhupendra Singh Chufal (48), his wife Seema Kaida Chufal (45), their children Vasu (19) and Ravi (12), all from Khatima, and their driver Anuj Kumar Mishra (34) from Alambagh, Lucknow. The family originally hailed from Khatima but were residing in Lucknow, where Bhupendra worked as a chartered accountant.
Investigation Underway
Police have sent the bodies for postmortem and initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Authorities are examining the possibility of driver error or mechanical failure as contributing factors.
