In a devastating road mishap, eight people perished when a pickup van veered off a mountain road and tumbled into a gorge in Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. The calamity has united India’s highest dignitaries in mourning, with immediate announcements of ex-gratia payments for victims’ kin.
Posting on X, President Droupadi Murmu expressed her profound sadness over the fatal plunge, offering heartfelt condolences to the shattered families and hoping for the injured’s speedy recuperation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an official release, lamented the ‘heart-wrenching’ loss, assuring support to the bereaved and invoking blessings for the wounded. The PMNRF aid package includes Rs 2 lakh per deceased and Rs 50,000 for each survivor.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar labeled the event ‘deeply distressing,’ sharing prayers for the families and the hurt.
Details reveal the overloaded van carried 10 locals from Ghanasali area villages—Chaanji, Thela, and Chakreda—heading back from Haridwar after attending a cremation. Sudden loss of control on the treacherous route led to the plunge.
Authorities acted promptly: JDMO Brijesh Bhatt verified eight fatalities, with two injured promptly evacuated to Baurari Hospital where they are out of danger. Coordinated response from police, SDRF, and firefighters extracted the victims efficiently, led by DM Nitika Khandelwal.
As investigations probe the cause—possibly speeding or mechanical failure—the nation reflects on recurring tragedies in Uttarakhand’s rugged landscapes, urging infrastructure upgrades and awareness campaigns.
