Boy killed in car crash near Anni; father and brother injured

A 15-year-old boy, Aditya, was killed on the spot in a tragic car accident near Anni in Kullu district, while his father Vijender and younger brother Naitik (13) were injured. Due to the ongoing statewide ambulance strike, both injured victims were unable to receive timely medical assistance.

With no emergency services available, local residents rushed the injured father and son to the hospital in a private vehicle. The strike by 108 and 102 ambulance workers began at 8 p.m. on Thursday and continued through Friday night, crippling emergency medical services across Himachal Pradesh. Ambulances remained parked outside hospitals without drivers, leaving critically ill patients stranded and vulnerable.

According to reports, the accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Friday. The family was traveling from Anni to Deem in a Swift car when, about 7 km from Anni near the Shupdharathi curve, the driver lost control and the vehicle plunged into a deep gorge. Locals immediately launched a rescue operation, but Aditya died on the spot. Vijender and Naitik sustained serious injuries, and with no ambulance available, villagers transported them to Ani hospital in a private car.

Given Vijender’s critical condition, he was later referred to Mahatma Gandhi Kheneri Hospital in Rampur and subsequently shifted to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla for advanced treatment. Naitik was also moved to IGMC for further care.

The lack of ambulance services caused widespread disruption in several districts. Rampur’s Khaneri Hospital, which caters to four districts, reported that at least 22 emergency patients had to arrive using private transport during the strike—many traveling 45 to 60 kilometers, facing both financial and emotional distress.

The striking ambulance workers—many of whom have served for over 14–15 years—are demanding regularization of their jobs and improved working conditions. Their union has warned that if their demands are not met soon, they will launch an indefinite strike.

Aditya’s tragic death and the suffering of emergency patients across the state have intensified public concern over the consequences of prolonged healthcare strikes, raising serious questions about emergency preparedness and the resilience of essential services during crises.