13 on way to temple die in Shimla mishap

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 22 

All 13 occupants of a multi-passenger Trax were killed after the vehicle plunged off the road into a gorge near Snail village in Saraswati Nagar area of Rohru in Shimla district on Saturday.

The victims included three couples belonging to two families from Nandla and Dhara villages in Chirgaon and Rohru tehsils. The mishap occurred around  9.15 am while they were on their way to Mahasu Dev temple in Tiuni area of Uttarakhand. While 10 persons died on the spot, three succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital. 

Residents of nearby villages were the first to launch a rescue operation. An official said it was with great difficulty that the injured and the bodies could be extricated from the mangled vehicle (HP-02-A-0695). He said a majority of the victims belonged to Nandla village in Chirgaon’s Jangla sub-tehsil.

The deceased have been identified as Matvar Singh, his wife Basanti, son Manish, Matvar’s brother Attar Singh, his wife Munni Devi, Prem Singh, his wife Poonam, daughter Riddhima, Bittu, Basanti Devi, Ner Singh, Manoj Kumar and driver Anil Kumar of Kuddu Sawra.  Shimla Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered. 

Jubbal SHO Naresh Kumar said as per preliminary investigations, it appeared to be a case of rash and negligent driving. Rohru SDM BR Sharma said relief had been provided to the kin of those killed.