Himachal Pradesh: A devastating incident unfolded on Friday in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, as a police car on duty plunged into a river, resulting in the tragic demise of 7 policemen.

The vehicle, a Tata Sumo, carried a total of 11 individuals, including 6 police officers and the driver. Additionally, 4 others sustained injuries, one of whom was a local villager.

The catastrophic accident occurred near Tarwai bridge on the Teesa Bairagarh road around 9 am. The police personnel were en route for patrolling when an unforeseen event transpired. A massive boulder dislodged from a hill and struck the police vehicle, causing it to careen uncontrollably into the river.

Read more: Breaking! Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust asserts ownership of Idgah Land for first time

The impact proved fatal, claiming the lives of Sub-Inspector Rakesh Gora, Head Constable Parveen Tandon, Constables Kamaljit, Sachin, and Abhishek, along with driver Chandu Ram’s son Jaidayal from Mangli in Tisa.

Another constable named Akshay, as well as Sakshya, Sachin, and Head Constable Rajendra, sustained injuries, alongside a villager named Pankaj Kumar. The injured parties were immediately taken to Teesa Hospital, where, unfortunately, one of the policemen succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

The aftermath of the tragedy saw swift responses from local residents and the police department, who worked together to manage the situation. Amidst the grief and recovery efforts, political discourse surrounding the incident commenced. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri expressed condolences for the lives lost and wished for a speedy recovery of the injured.

In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has pointed fingers at the state government and the Public Works Department (PWD) for the accident. BJP State Vice President and MLA Hansraj highlighted the alleged negligence of the government and PWD’s Executive Engineer (XEN).

He urged immediate filing of an FIR against Joginder Sharma, a PWD employee, and the establishment of a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the accident. The BJP’s stance emphasizes the need for accountability and measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.