11 people killed, 3 injured as SUV falls into deep gorge in Uttarakhand's Chamoli distric

An SUV fell into a gorge about 700 meters deep in Uttarakhand's Chamoli at 3:30 pm on Friday. 11 people died in the accident, while 4 people were injured. The dead include 10 men and 2 women. There were 21 people in the SUV. 2-3 people were sitting on the terrace and got serious injuries. The SUV was going from Joshimath in Uttarakhand towards Palla Jakhula village.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed grief over this accident. He has announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. He also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter.

As soon as the information about the accident was received, the local police and fire brigade team reached the spot and started the rescue. Locals say that the SUV was attempting to climb a hill near Palla village, but the driver lost control and the SUV fell into a gorge. Where the accident took place, there is a rain drain due to which the road is unpaved and stony.

ARTO told that all the papers of the vehicle have been found correct, but the vehicle is allowed to be taken on the road where the accident happened. From 2020, the construction work of 11-kilometer long Urgam-Palla Jakhola road is going on. The SUV had passed through the check post before the accident, but no one stopped it there.