5 killed as taxi falls in gorge in Chamba

Shimla, Aug 24 (PTI) Five persons, including a mother-sonduo, were killed and two others injured today when a taxirolled down into a deep gorge near Kathwar in HimachalPradesh’s Chamba district, about 430 km from here. The ill-fated taxi carrying eight persons was on its wayfrom Chaju to Nakrod when the tragedy struck. The bodies ofthe victims have been recovered and handed over to the familymembers after postmortem, while the injured were rushed tohospital, police said. The victims were identified as Hemlata and her sonHimansh, Guddi, Rita, and Kuldeep, the driver of the taxi.Four persons died on the spot, while the driver succumbed tothe injuries on his way to hospital, Tissa SHO Kripal Singhsaid. The police and district administration officers reachedthe spot and an immediate relief of Rs 10,000 each was givento next of kin of the deceased by Tissa SDM Hitesh Azad. The injured persons have been admitted to hospital atChama and are stated to be out of danger. A case has been registered and police are probing thecause of the accident. PTI PCL KIS ZMNKIS