At least 13 people were killed and eight others injured when a vehicle fell into a deep gorge near Girgaon in Pithorgarh’s Munsiyari area on Tuesday.
The vehicle was on its way from Samkot to Hokra in Munsiyari Tehsil. Preliminary investigations suggested that the vehicle was overloaded with 21 passengers and the driver lost control over the wheels at a steep curve following which the vehicle rolled down into a 200-metre gorge. However, the actual cause of the mishap would be ascertained only after the completion of the investigation, said the Pithoragarh police.
A dozen passengers were killed on the spot and one died on way to hospital. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital in Munsiyari Tehsil. Condition of some of the injured passengers was reported to be critical. This was second tragic road accident reported from Pithorgarh district within less than a month.
About 15 people were killed and seven others injured when a vehicle they were travelling in met with a road accident near Dobat on the Dharchula- Rathi Road in Pithorgarh’s Dharchula areaa on November 20. Overloading was also reported to be the main reason behind the November 20 road accident.