MANDI: A tragic accident in the Gumma area of Mandi district’s Jogindernagar subdivision claimed the life of a woman and left seven others injured on Friday morning when a boulder rolled down a hill and struck a family of pilgrims.
The deceased has been identified as Rameshwari Sharma, wife of Gopal Krishna, a resident of Sultanpur in Kullu district. She died on the spot due to the impact.
According to initial reports, the family was traveling in two vehicles from Kullu to offer prayers at the Simsa Mata temple. Around 10:00 AM on Friday, they pulled over near Gumma to drink water. Suddenly, a boulder came crashing down from the adjacent hillside, catching the group off guard.
The sudden impact triggered chaos and panic at the scene. Local residents and administrative officials rushed to the spot, launching an immediate rescue operation. The seven injured pilgrims were promptly evacuated and admitted to the Civil Hospital in Jogindernagar, where they are currently undergoing treatment.
Police and administration teams arrived at the site shortly after receiving information about the incident. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the accident.
NHAI Team Braves Falling Rocks to Rescue 7-Month-Old Infant and Elderly Patient in Landslide-Hit Chamba
In Chamba: Displaying exemplary bravery and prompt action amid treacherous weather conditions, a team from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) safely evacuated a seven-month-old infant and an elderly patient to hospital through a landslide-prone zone in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district.
Continuous heavy rainfall in the region has triggered frequent landslides and falling boulders from mountains, making travel along highways highly hazardous.
On Thursday, an infant relying on oxygen support became trapped midway along the route with family members due to road blockages. Recognizing the critical nature of the situation, the NHAI highway patrolling team acted immediately. Using patrol vehicles, personnel safely transported the child and family members through the high-risk stretch and ensured they reached the medical facility without delay.
In a separate rescue effort on the same route, an ambulance carrying an elderly patient referred from Bharmour to Chamba Hospital was halted due to severe road blockages. NHAI personnel carefully carried the patient through the completely blocked site using an NHAI vehicle to reach a waiting ambulance on the other side, enabling immediate transfer to Chamba Hospital.
Throughout the operation, the NHAI team remained deployed on-site, coordinating closely with local police and district administration to carry out the medical evacuations safely.
Applauding the effort, Bharmour Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Vikas Sharma stated that transporting the infant and the elderly patient for medical care amid continuous landslides was a major challenge. He praised the NHAI team for their swift action and dedication under adverse conditions.
The administration has urged residents and travelers to avoid non-essential travel given the current weather conditions and to strictly adhere to guidelines issued by local authorities.
