Gurpreet Singh :- A late-night road accident near Dalhousie claimed the lives of three tourists after their vehicle plunged into a deep gorge along the Dalhousie–Karelnu road on Friday.
According to police officials, six persons were travelling in the vehicle when it reportedly lost control near Gandhi Chowk and veered off the road. The car is believed to have slipped before falling nearly 1.5 km into a steep gorge, leaving it completely wrecked.
Two tourists died on the spot due to the impact, while a young woman who was critically injured succumbed on the way to Pathankot hospital. Among the survivors, one person with serious injuries has been referred to Pathankot for advanced treatment, while two others are currently undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital in Dalhousie.
All the occupants of the vehicle are said to be residents of Jalandhar who had travelled to the hill station for a visit. Authorities stated that the identities of the deceased are yet to be officially confirmed.
Rescue operations proved difficult due to the depth of the gorge and poor visibility at night. Police teams, along with local administration and rescue personnel, reached the site soon after receiving information and worked under challenging conditions to retrieve the victims.
An investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the accident. Preliminary findings suggest that slippery road conditions, overspeeding or loss of control by the driver could have contributed to the mishap. Officials said the exact reason will be clear only after a detailed probe.
