4 dead, 14 injured as tourist van falls into gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu

Four tourists were killed and 14 others sustained serious injuries when a tourist tempo traveller skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district on Saturday night. The vehicle, carrying 22 passengers including two children, was returning from Jalori Pass when the accident occurred along a 15-kilometre stretch toward Bhuntar. Preliminary reports indicate that incessant rains created slippery road conditions, contributing to the vehicle losing control.

Authorities confirmed that four tourists died on the spot, including two women, while 18 passengers were rescued by police, fire service personnel, and local administration teams. Fourteen of the injured have been taken to the Community Health Centre Banjar for treatment, with at least one passenger reported to be in critical condition. The tourists had been staying at a hotel in Jhibi, approximately 10 kilometres from Banjar town, near the site of the accident.

Officials said the tempo traveller was carrying passengers beyond its seating capacity at the time of the incident. The vehicle fell nearly 500 feet into the gorge, sustaining severe damage. Rescue operations continue as authorities fear that additional casualties may be reported. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, but challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions are believed to have played a significant role.

Local administration teams, in coordination with police and fire services, have been conducting extensive search and rescue operations throughout the night. Residents and hotel staff near the area assisted in alerting authorities and aiding initial evacuation efforts. Traffic along the route has been temporarily diverted to allow rescue teams to operate efficiently, and emergency medical services have been deployed to nearby hospitals.

The incident has highlighted the risks of travel in the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh during the monsoon season. Authorities have urged tourists and transport operators to exercise extreme caution and adhere to vehicle capacity limits, especially on steep and rain-affected roads, to prevent similar accidents in the future.