Two Dead After 16-Wheeler Falls into Gorge in Kangra; Driver Absconds
Two persons were killed after a 16-wheeled truck plunged into a deep gorge on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway near the '53 Mile' area in Kangra district late Sunday night. The truck driver allegedly fled the scene following the accident.
Arvind Sharma
Jul 28, 2026 08:15
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Dharamshala, July 28, 2026: Two persons were killed after a 16-wheeled truck plunged into a deep gorge on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway near the '53 Mile' area in Kangra district late Sunday night. The truck driver allegedly fled the scene following the accident.
According to police, the Punjab-registered truck was crossing the bridge connecting 53 Mile and Kholi when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle. The truck crashed through the bridge's concrete safety railing before plunging into the gorge below.
The deceased have been identified as Manu Mahajan (39), son of Brijmohan and a resident of Kaisthwadi village in Nagrota tehsil, and Randhir Lumba (51), son of Naresh Kumar and a resident of Ward No. 4, Nagrota Bagwan. Both died on the spot due to the impact of the crash.
The collision was so severe that the truck was extensively damaged, and the loud noise alerted nearby residents. Local people rushed to the spot, informed the police, and joined the rescue operation.
Eyewitnesses said three persons, including the driver, were travelling in the truck. However, by the time the victims were extricated from the mangled vehicle, Manu Mahajan and Randhir Lumba had already succumbed to their injuries. The driver allegedly escaped from the scene before police arrived.
A police team reached the accident site soon after receiving information, recovered the bodies, and sent them for post-mortem examinations. A case has been registered, and an investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
Police have initiated a search for the absconding driver and are in contact with the Punjab-based transporter to establish the driver's identity and determine the circumstances leading to the fatal crash
