A tragic road accident near the North Portal of the Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh left one person dead and three others injured after a speeding Scorpio SUV crashed in a dramatic manner late Tuesday night.
The incident occurred on the Lahaul-Spiti side of the tunnel, shortly after the vehicle emerged from the North Portal.
According to preliminary reports, the Scorpio was travelling at high speed when the driver lost control. The SUV smashed through roadside barricades, crashed into an under-construction bridge over the Chandra River.
The impact of the crash was so severe that exposed iron rods from the unfinished structure pierced through the vehicle, leaving it completely mangled. Videos recorded by bystanders showing the heavily damaged SUV suspended on the pillar have since spread widely on social media.
Rescue teams, including firefighters, quickly reached the scene and launched an emergency operation to free the passengers. All four occupants were pulled out of the mangled vehicle and rushed for medical treatment.
The deceased has been identified as Kailash Kumar (32), son of Govind Ram and a resident of Mandota village in Rajasthan's Sikar district.
The injured include Rajendra from Mandla village in Sikar district, Rajasthan; Aditya from Palia Kalan in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district; and Siddharth Singh Shekhawat from Khatu Shyam in Rajasthan's Sikar district.
Lahaul-Spiti Superintendent of Police Shivani Mehla said that the victim's family has been informed about the accident. Police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.
