10 people died on the spot, while three others succumbed to their injuries at Rohru hospital
Thirteen people, including three couples, died after a vehicle veered off a road and fell into a deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla district today, a police official said.
The accident happened at Sanail, three kilometres from Kuddu on Tiyuni Road in Rohru tehsil. The ill-fated Trax vehicle (bearing registration number HP 02 0695) was on its way to Tiyuni from Swara.
All the 13 occupants were killed in the accident, Shimla Superintendent of Police Omapati Jamwal said.
While 10 of them died on the spot, three succumbed to injuries at Rohru hospital, Jamwal said.
The deceased included eight members of three families.
They have been identified as Matvar Singh (48), his wife Basanti Devi (44), their son Munish (24), Prem Singh (38), his wife Poonam (30), their daughter Ridhima (6), Attar Singh (44), his wife Munna Devi (40), Bittu (42), Bandi Devi (48), Ner Singh (35), Manoj (35) and Anil (28).
Most of the victims were residents of different areas falling under Rohru tehsil here.
A police team led by Jubbal Station House Officer and Swara police post in-charge reached the site shortly after getting information about the accident. The team rescued three injured people and sent them to Rohru hospital but they died, Jamwal added.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur have condoled the deaths.
In separate condolence messages, the governor and the CM prayed for peace to all departed souls and strength to the bereaved family members.
Himachal Congress president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families.