Driver killed as truck goes off Dehradun-Mussoorie road

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Mussoorie, 6 May: In a tragic road accident that occurred early Wednesday morning on the Dehradun-Mussoorie route, a truck loaded with rations and cold drinks plunged into a deep gorge. The truck driver died on the spot in the accident, while the helper sustained critical injuries. Following the incident, teams from the Mussoorie Police, SDRF, Fire Services, and the Health Department launched a joint rescue operation to retrieve both individuals from the gorge.According to reports, the accident occurred around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, approximately 200 metres ahead of Mussoorie Lake in the direction of Dehradun, when a truck lost control and fell into a gorge. Upon receiving the information, teams from the Mussoorie Police, Fire Services, the 108 Ambulance service, and the Sub-District Hospital rushed to the scene. However, due to the depth of the gorge and the difficulties encountered during the rescue attempt, an NDRF team was summoned to the site. Subsequently, a joint rescue operation was conducted to retrieve the injured helper and the deceased driver from the gorge, after which they were transported to the hospital. According to the police, the truck (bearing registration number UK 07-CB-1727) was traveling from the Dehradun Railway Station to Uttarkashi, carrying a consignment of cold drinks, oil, and other ration supplies. During the journey, the vehicle suddenly went out of control and plunged into a gorge approximately 100 metres deep. The accident resulted in the on-the-spot death of the truck driver, identified as Mubarak (son of Ilyas Ali), a resident of Timli (Sahaspur Police Station area), Dehradun; the helper, Sajid (son of Rehmat), sustained critical injuries. After a strenuous effort, the rescue teams successfully retrieved both individuals from the gorge. The injured helper has been sent to the hospital for medical treatment, while the body of the deceased driver has been sent for a post-mortem examination.Mussoorie Kotwal (Station House Officer) Devendra Chauhan stated that preliminary investigations suggest the driver may have momentarily dozed off at the wheel—a likely cause for the truck losing control and plunging into the gorge. He stated that the police are investigating the matter and that the families of the deceased and the injured have been informed. Following the accident, an atmosphere of chaos prevailed on the road for some time. Expressing concern over the recurring accidents on these hilly routes, local residents have demanded that the administration implement robust road safety measures.