Shimla: Seven young men from Delhi were killed and two others were critically injured, when the SUV vehicle they were traveling in went off from a wide stretch of road in Bilaspur district past the mid-night hour on Tuesday.
“Six of the victims died on the spot and the 7th one, who was rescued and taken to hospital within one hour of the accident succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday morning,†said Kuldeep Sharma, district police chief Bilaspur told My Himachal News
‘There was no trace of liquor in the vehicle and the likely cause of the accident is over-speeding or sleep overcoming the driver for the accident occurred at about 12.10 a.m. on Tuesday,†he said.
All the nine occupants of the Scorpio vehicle (DL -7CC – 6448) in the age group of 20 to 30 are said to be residents of Islampur, Delhi. “Parents of the victims have reached Bilaspur,†said Sharma.
“The injured after being provided emergency treatment have been referred to PGI Chandigarh,†said Nandita Gupta, deputy commissioner Bilaspur. “Immediate relief of Rs 10,000 to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 7,000 to the injured has been released,†she said.
The deceased include Deepak Garg (27), Nitin Sharma (21), Sonu (21) Salesh Bhati (22) Yakshit Sharma (22), Sushil Garg (30) and Gajinder Rastogi (24). Among the survivors are Ganesh and Pravesh, who have been shifted to Chandigarh for treatment.
The nine friends after having visited Shimla were on a overnight journey to pilgrimage centre Jwalamukhi in Kangra, when the vehicle lost control and fell into a ditch at Dadhol village, near Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district.
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Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
Many accidents have happened even in the past on the same spot due to this narrow bridge and a large and sharp angle of the road at this point.
The place of accident has a very dangerous curve after a straight stretch of 200 – 300 m. Generally while driving near that point, many people do not realize the danger of this point and continue speeding. The point has become more dangerous particularly after the road has been widened and made 2 lane national highway. The road on both sides is 2 lane and suddenly comes the narrow single lane bridge with an angle of 90 degrees and even more.
It is high time that government take a decision to construct a new bridge at this place. Otherwise, we will keep loosing lives till a solution is found to this problem.