A devastating road accident claimed five lives after a Bolero vehicle carrying six people veered off the Pauri–Devprayag motor road and plunged approximately 250 metres into a deep gorge near Sabdarkhal in Uttarakhand's Pauri district. The accident occurred on Friday, and preliminary reports suggest that the driver lost control of the vehicle before it fell into the gorge.
Local residents rushed to the spot after witnessing the crash and immediately informed the police. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Devprayag Police launched a challenging rescue operation in the difficult mountainous terrain.
Five occupants, including Afzal (49), his wife Shabbo (40), their three-year-old daughter, 14-year-old son, and Gufran (34), died in the accident. The only survivor, Armaan, sustained injuries and was rescued before being shifted to the Base Hospital in Srinagar, Uttarakhand, for treatment.
Police said the victims were residents of Raipur Jeetpur in Haridwar district. The bodies have been recovered from the gorge and sent for post-mortem examinations. Authorities are conducting a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Officials have once again urged motorists to exercise extreme caution while travelling on hilly roads, especially during the monsoon season, when slippery roads, poor visibility, and landslides significantly increase the risk of accidents.
