Six persons, including four women, were killed and eight others injured, when an ill fated pick-up van rolled down from the road near Machhetar in the Bharmour subdivision of Chamba District. The four women were killed on the spot while two persons succumbed to their injuries on way to the Chamba hospital. The vehicle was carrying 14 persons and was on its way from Sinyur to Holi.
Four of the injured were referred to Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College at Tanda in Kangra district in a critical condition. The rest were undergoing treatment at the Regional Hospital in Chamba.
Superintendent of Police BM Sharma, other police officials and residents of the area reached the spot. Sharma supervised relief and rescue operations. The officials and others extricated the bodies.
The bodies were handed to the next of kin of the deceased after post-mortem. A case of rash and negligent driving was registered by the police.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri expressed grief over the incident. They directed officials to provide all possible help to the injured and the next of kin of the deceased.
