Uttarakhand: 12 Killed After Vehicle Falls Into 300 Metre-Deep Gorge In Chamoli

The Tata Sumo, carrying 17 passengers, fell into a gorge at Urgam in Joshimath area of the district, the State Disaster Response Force said.

The incident happened when the passengers were on their way to Palla Jakhol village from Joshimath

Source : PTI

A passenger vehicle carrying 17 passengers fell into a 300 metre-deep gorge in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Friday, killing 12 people, PTI reported. The Tata Sumo fell into a gorge at Urgam in Joshimath area of the district, the State Disaster Response Force said. 

The incident happened when the passengers were on their way to Palla Jakhol village from Joshimath, Chamoli SP Pramendra Dobhal told PTI.  

"Two of the occupants jumped out of the vehicle in the nick of time. The SDRF has recovered all the 12 bodies," the SP said. 

The vehicle is said to have been overloaded with some occupants also sitting on its roof. 

According to an eyewitness, quoted by PTI, the gorge was around 300 metres deep and reaching the spot where the remains of the vehicle lay was difficult. 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took to twitter to express his grief at the loss of lives in the accident. He assured that the injured will be provided free of cost treatment. He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of those killed.

हादसे में मृतकों के परिजनों को मुआवजे के रूप में ₹2 लाख की आर्थिक सहायता प्रदान की जाएगी व घायलों को निःशुल्क उपचार उपलब्ध करवाया जाएगा। साथ ही घटना की मजिस्ट्रियल जांच के आदेश दे दिए गए हैं।

— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 18, 2022

The CM also spoke to the District Magistrate of Chamoli, Himanshu Khurana, over the phone and asked him to ensure that free medical treatment is provided to the injured, informed PTI. 

According to a list issued by the SDRF, those killed in the accident were identified as Dalip Singh Chauhan, Sitab Singh Chauhan, Subodh Singh, Vikram Singh, Kashmira Devi, Lakshman Singh, Tajwar Singh, Rajeshwari, Gajendra Singh, Ranjit Singh and Gabbar Singh and Shiv Singh. 

Most of those killed were from Kimana, Kalkot, Dumak and Palla villages. 

The SP office said that the injured included Ajit Yadav from Allahabad, Rohit Prajapati from Hapur and Mahavir Singh, reported PTI 

Hemant Chauhan and Jeetpal escaped unhurt, the SP office said. 

(With Agency Inputs)