Pick-up vehicle plunges into gorge, 1 dead

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 18 Nov: In yet another tragic reminder of Uttarakhand’s worsening road safety crisis, a pick-up van met with a fatal accident on the Vikasnagar-Juddo motor road, plunging into a gorge approximately 220 metres deep near Juddo Dam this morning. The vehicle, bearing registration number UK 07 CA 1049, reportedly went out of control while navigating a hilly stretch and tumbled into the ravine, resulting in the death of the driver and serious injuries to the accompanying passenger. The incident occurred early this morning and has once again raised concerns over the lack of effective safety measures on mountain roads that continue to witness frequent accidents.
According to official sources, the pick-up vehicle was transporting tent materials from the upper reaches when the mishap occurred. The deceased has been identified as Rashid Ali, aged 35, a resident of Vikasnagar, while the injured youth, Hukum, hails from Barabanki in UP. The Dakpathar Police Post was alerted about the accident, following which the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was immediately mobilised. A rescue team led by ASI Suresh Tomar reached the site and initiated a challenging operation due to the depth and terrain of the gorge. The injured was successfully rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, while the body of the deceased was retrieved and handed over to the local police for further proceedings.
It is being reported that the pick-up veered off the road near the Juddo Dam area, which has become notorious for such incidents due to narrow bends, lack of protective barriers, and poor visibility during early hours. The accident occurred around 6 a.m. when the vehicle was enroute from Vikasnagar to Meenas. Eyewitnesses and residents have reiterated the urgent need for road widening, installation of crash barriers, and regular patrolling in accident-prone zones, especially on routes frequented by commercial and tourist vehicles.
This incident comes close on the heels of another road accident in Chamoli district, where an Eco van carrying a wedding party met with an accident near Dhunaghar in the Gairsain Nagar Panchayat area. Several passengers were injured and had to be admitted to the Sub-District Hospital in Gairsain with the assistance of local residents and police personnel. Such recurring accidents are a reminder of the fragile nature of road infrastructure in the hill state and the pressing need for a coordinated response from transport and disaster management authorities.