Face2News/Chamba/Shimla
A tragic road accident has claimed eight lives in Chamba District in Himachal Pradesh after an SUV carrying tourists plunged nearly 500 meters into a deep gorge. The accident occurred late Friday night on the Bairagarh–Sach road in the Churah subdivision.
Meanwhile Mr. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Chief Minister, condole the sad demise of tourists.
According to reports, seven tourists, including children, and the local driver lost their lives in the crash. Rescue operations were severely hampered by the rugged terrain and steep slopes of the area. Authorities faced immense challenges in reaching the accident site and recovering the bodies. The retrieval operation reportedly continued until Sunday evening.
The accident occurred late Friday night but remained unnoticed for many hours due to the remote location. Local residents became aware of the tragedy only on Saturday afternoon. After receiving information, police and district administration officials rushed to the spot and launched a rescue and recovery operation.
Unfortunately, no survivors were found. The deceased tourists are reported to have been residents of Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chhattisgarh who were visiting Himachal Pradesh for a vacation.
This is not the first such tragedy in the region. On May 11, 2026, six tourists from Gujarat were killed and several others injured when their vehicle plunged about 300 meters into a gorge in the Kakira area of Chamba district while traveling from Dharamshala to Dalhousie.
In another accident near Kakira on the Chamba–Pathankot National Highway, a vehicle veered off the road and fell into a gorge, killing the driver, a resident of Mandi district.
Mountain Roads Continue to Pose Serious Risks
Road accidents involving vehicles falling into deep gorges have become a recurring concern in Himachal Pradesh. The state’s mountainous terrain, narrow roads, sharp bends, and steep valleys make driving particularly challenging.
Even a minor error, overspeeding, poor visibility, or adverse weather conditions can lead to devastating consequences. Authorities continue to urge drivers and tourists to exercise extreme caution while traveling on mountain roads, especially during night hours.
