Five Family Members Killed After Car Plunges Into Gorge in Himachal’s Chamba Amid Heavy Rain

Shimla, July 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

Five members of a family, including a minor child, lost their lives after their car plunged into a deep gorge near Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district, with preliminary investigations pointing to adverse weather conditions as a likely factor behind the tragedy.

The accident occurred late Monday night on National Highway 154A while the family was returning home after taking an infant, aged less than one year, to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) in Chandigarh for medical treatment.

According to police, the deceased included the child’s parents and grandparents. Authorities said the exact cause of the accident will be established only after completion of the investigation, though initial findings suggest the driver may have lost control of the vehicle amid heavy rainfall, dense fog and slippery road conditions.

Superintendent of Police Vijay Saklani said police and rescue personnel rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the accident. Rescue operations continued through the night despite challenging conditions caused by heavy rain and blockage of the highway near Banikhet.

With assistance from local residents and the district administration, rescue teams completed the operation and recovered the victims from the gorge.

The accident comes as relentless monsoon rains continue to disrupt normal life across Himachal Pradesh. The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued a flash flood warning for the next 24 hours for seven districts, including Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur and Solan.

The weather office has warned of a low to moderate risk of flash floods in vulnerable watersheds and advised people to avoid riverbanks, landslide-prone areas and other high-risk locations.

Heavy overnight rainfall also caused landslides and waterlogging in parts of Chamba district, damaging parked vehicles, homes and shops, while a landslide blocked sections of National Highway 154A, disrupting traffic movement.