Tragedy Near Pir Nigaha Temple: Pickup Carrying Devotees Falls into Gorge, One Dead, 29 Injured

Una, June 13:
A tragic road accident occurred on Thursday night near the renowned Pir Nigaha temple in Himachal Pradesh. A pickup truck carrying devotees veered out of control and plunged into a 20-foot-deep gorge. One devotee died on the spot, while 29 others sustained injuries—two of them critically—who have been referred to PGI Chandigarh. The rest are being treated at the Regional Hospital in Una.

According to reports, a group of pilgrims from the Majitha area in Amritsar district of Punjab had visited Baba Balak Nath Temple and Dera Baba Vadbhag Singh before proceeding to Pirnigah Temple. The accident took place about 1.5 kilometers from the temple, on a sharp bend, while they were returning after the evening visit.

The vehicle, a modified double-decker pickup with wooden planks used for seating, was reportedly overcrowded with around 30 passengers. As the truck lost balance and fell into the gorge, the impact triggered chaos and screams, drawing the attention of nearby villagers. Locals rushed to the scene and began rescue operations. With the help of 108 ambulance services and a private bus, the injured were transported to Una’s regional hospital.

One pilgrim was declared dead upon arrival, and two others with serious injuries were referred to PGI Chandigarh after initial treatment. Survivors Sukhwinder Kaur and Gurmeet Kaur said the pickup was overloaded and poorly maintained. “It wasn’t safe to travel with so many people packed inside. The vehicle was unstable,” they recounted. Several passengers suffered broken limbs and head injuries.

Police arrived shortly after the accident to assess the situation. A formal investigation is underway, including scrutiny over why so many people were allowed to travel in an unsafe, overcrowded vehicle with no proper safety measures.

Dr. Sanjay Mankotia, Medical Superintendent at the hospital, stated that emergency teams were activated as soon as the incident was reported. “Timely medical attention has been provided. Most of the injured are stable now. The two critically injured have been referred to PGI Chandigarh,” he confirmed.