13 killed, 2 inured as utility vehicle falls into gorge in Uttarakhand’s Chakrata

A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team retrieved the bodies, the police said, adding that the two injured persons were admitted to a nearby hospital.

Wreckage of the vehicle that fell into a deep gorge at the Byla village, Chakrata in Dehradun district, Sunday, Oct 31, 2021. (PTI Photo)

They said the exact reason behind the accident is yet to be ascertained but overloading could be a cause.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the accident and said all possible help would be provided by the state government to the next of kin of the deceased and for the treatment of the injured.

जिला प्रशासन को बचाव व राहत कार्यों में तेजी लाने और घायलों को तत्काल उपचार उपलब्ध कराने के निर्देश दिए हैं।

— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) October 31, 2021

Ordering a magisterial probe into the accident, Dhami asked the state roadways department to ensure that vehicles stop the practice of overloading. He also advised passengers not to travel in overloaded vehicles.

After receiving information about the accident, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly and Chakrata MLA Pritam Singh also reached the accident site to take stock of the situation.

मेरी विधानसभा #चकराता में हुई वाहन दुर्घटना में 13 लोगों की मृत्यु और 2 लोगों के गंभीर घायल होने का दु:खद समाचार मिलने पर #बायला_गांव पहुंचकर दिवंगतों को श्रद्धांजलि दी और परिजनों को ढांढस बंधाते हुए शोक संवेदना व्यक्त की। मैं ईश्वर से प्रार्थना करता हूं कि 1/5

— Pritam Singh (@incpritamsingh) October 31, 2021