Mandi, June 8 — Two persons died and at least 19 others were injured after a pick-up vehicle carrying funeral-bound passengers plunged into a rivulet near Sanpalu village in the Gohar area of Mandi district on Sunday.
Police identified the deceased as Neelmani (40) and Bodh Raj (46), both residents of Bhurla village in Chachyot tehsil. The vehicle, carrying 21 people including the driver, lost control on the Jachh-Chailchowk road and veered off the route into a rivulet.
“A case has been registered at Gohar police station and investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the crash,” said Mandi SP Sakshi Verma.
Initial reports suggest that the group was travelling from Jhamar and Bhurla villages to Devidhar to attend a funeral. Locals assisted in the rescue operation, helping shift the injured to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Gohar. Those with more serious injuries were later referred to Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College, Nerchowk.
Out of the 19 injured, 10 are said to be in serious condition, while the rest suffered minor injuries, officials said. Relief and rescue efforts were initiated promptly by the local administration.
Later in the day, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur visited the injured at Nerchowk hospital. “I’ve directed the hospital staff to ensure the best possible treatment. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” Thakur said. He was accompanied by Nachan MLA Vinod Kumar, Mandi BJP district president Nihal Chand, and other local leaders.
In a separate incident, a tempo traveller overturned near Padchhu bridge in Dharampur subdivision on National Highway-3 at around 5 a.m. on Sunday. The vehicle, en route from Chandigarh to Dharampur, was struck by a falling rock—triggered by ongoing road-widening work—which caused it to overturn.
No fatalities were reported in the second mishap, but the accident caused a temporary disruption in traffic on the highway. Police and highway authorities are investigating both incidents.
