6 dead, 4 injured as tourist vehicle crashes into 300-metre gorge in Himachal Pradesh

At least six tourists from Gujarat were killed and four others injured after an SUV plunged into a nearly 300-metre-deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district early Monday morning. The accident took place on the Lohru–Dalhousie road near the Ghara area in the Chowari subdivision after the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle. Police said the victims died on the spot, while the injured were shifted to a government hospital for treatment.

According to officials, the accident occurred around 3 am when an Innova vehicle carrying ten people, including the driver, was travelling from Manali to Dalhousie. The vehicle reportedly went out of control on the Chamba-Nurpur National Highway and crashed into the deep gorge. The impact severely damaged the vehicle, and rescue operations began soon after local residents and police teams reached the spot.

Police said all passengers in the vehicle were tourists from Gujarat. The identities of the deceased had not been officially confirmed at the time of reporting. The injured passengers received initial treatment locally before being referred to a higher medical facility because of the seriousness of their injuries. Authorities have sent the bodies for post-mortem examination.

Investigators have started an inquiry to determine the exact cause of the accident. Police said overspeeding, road conditions, and driver control are among the aspects being examined. The accident-hit vehicle has been recovered from the gorge, and officials are collecting further evidence from the site.

The Chamba accident is the second major road tragedy reported in Himachal Pradesh within a month. In April, three tourists were killed and 17 injured after another vehicle fell into a gorge near Jalori Jot in Kullu district. On Sunday, at least 28 people were injured in Kangra district after a private bus overturned when the driver reportedly suffered chest pain and lost control of the vehicle on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway.