The road accidents continuing unabated in the mountainous parts of Uttarakhand, five persons have died and five others injured when the vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell in a gorge in Uttarkashi district on Monday. The accident occurred near Bhankod on Dharasu-Jogat motor road in the morning.
The local police and State Disaster Response Force ( SDRF) personnel rushed to the spot upon being informed of the mishap and started relief and rescue operations. The local people also came forward to help the rescue team.
It is learnt that the driver of the ill-fated vehicle lost control when its brakes failed.
Four of the deceased have been identified as Kripal Singh ( 64), Dipna Devi ( 55), Laxmi Devi (52) and Krishna Devi ( 24). Another identified as Pulam Singh succumbed while being taken to the hospital.
On the order of the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, two of the critically injured have been airlifted from Chinyalisaud airstrip by a helicopter provided by the administration.
They have been later admitted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh.
The Chief Minister has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the accident.
In his message, he has expressed his deep condolences on the death of passengers in the road accident. He ordered the District Magistrate to ensure that the injured get proper medical treatment and asked for immediate disbursement of the interim relief. CM also asked the DM to hold magisterial inquiry into the accident.