Four people were killed when a vehicle carrying a DJ and sound-equipment team plunged into a deep gorge near Kiratpur Sahib, close to the Himachal Pradesh-Punjab border, early on Wednesday, reports said. The team was returning from the International Kullu Dussehra festival in Himachal Pradesh.
Source: Nation Press
The team was on its way back to the Ropar area of Punjab after completing its work at the festival when the driver lost control of the vehicle on the hilly stretch near Kiratpur Sahib and it veered off the road into the gorge, according to preliminary reports.
Source: National Times Media
Police and fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot after the accident was reported. An ambulance driver said he received information about the crash at around 6:30 am, and the injured were taken to hospital. The difficult terrain and the depth of the gorge made the rescue operation challenging, and the identities of those killed were not immediately available in the initial reports.
Himachal Chief Minister Condoles the Deaths
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed profound grief over the accident on Thursday. In a post on X, he called the incident heartbreaking and offered his deepest condolences to the bereaved families, praying for peace for the departed souls and strength for their families. The Chief Minister's Office also described the tragedy as deeply saddening and heartbreaking.
Source: Nation Press
The International Kullu Dussehra is one of Himachal Pradesh's most prominent festivals and draws large numbers of devotees and performers to the Kullu valley, with sound, lighting and other equipment moved along the mountain roads before and after the celebrations. The exact cause of Wednesday's accident has not yet been officially confirmed, and further details are awaited from the police.