Chamba (Rajeev Sharma/Gurpreet Singh): A pilgrimage to the revered Manimahesh shrine ended in tragedy after a Punjab resident lost his life when a large boulder crashed onto the vehicle he was travelling in on the Chamba-Bharmour road in Himachal Pradesh during the early hours of Wednesday. The incident occurred amid ongoing rainfall that has increased the risk of landslides across the hill state.
According to police, four friends from Punjab were heading towards the Manimahesh pilgrimage site in a Mahindra Thar when the accident took place near Mehla in Chamba district at around 3 a.m. A massive rock suddenly rolled down from the hillside, smashing through the SUV’s sunroof and striking one of the occupants.
The victim, identified as Makhan Singh (40), a resident of Maliyan village in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, sustained severe injuries in the impact. He was immediately rushed to Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College and Hospital in Chamba, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The remaining three passengers escaped without serious injuries. Authorities reached the spot soon after receiving information about the incident and shifted the body for a post-mortem examination. Police have initiated legal proceedings and informed the deceased’s family.
The accident comes at a time when Himachal Pradesh has been witnessing persistent rainfall, triggering frequent landslides and incidents of falling rocks on several mountain roads. The Chamba-Bharmour highway, a key route for devotees travelling to the Manimahesh shrine, is considered particularly vulnerable during the monsoon season.
Officials have urged pilgrims and motorists to exercise extreme caution while travelling through hilly areas, especially during adverse weather conditions. With the annual Manimahesh Yatra set to begin soon, authorities are also expected to intensify monitoring of landslide-prone stretches to ensure the safety of visitors.
