Shimla News
Shimla: Grandmother and Granddaughter Die After Huge Stone Falls Due to JCB Driver’s Negligence in Jholo Village
The deceased have been identified as Geeta Devi, 70, and Varsha, 21. The police have registered a case against the JCB driver and two others involved, and an investigation is underway.
Shimla, (Himachal Pradesh) [India], January 13 (Diary Times): A tragic accident occurred in Shimla just before the Lohri festival, resulting in the deaths of a grandmother and her granddaughter. The two were killed instantly when a large stone fell due to the negligence of a JCB machine driver in Jholo village, located in the Naldehra Panchayat area of the Dhali police station. What should have been a joyful time for the family turned into mourning following the incident. The deceased have been identified as Geeta Devi, 70, and Varsha, 21. The police have registered a case against the JCB driver and two others involved, and an investigation is underway.
According to information from the Dhali police, Geeta Devi had gone with her granddaughter Varsha to collect fodder for their animals near Matlu Khad in Gasni, a hillside area near the village, on Sunday afternoon. While they were there, large stones suddenly fell on them from above. Both Geeta Devi and Varsha were killed instantly in the accident.
In his complaint to the Dhali police, Geeta Devi’s son, Vijay Kumar, stated that he was not at home when the incident occurred. His father informed him that Geeta Devi and Varsha had gone to collect grass and were struck by falling stones. Vijay Kumar rushed to the scene, where he found the bodies of his mother and daughter, with several nearby villagers gathered around.
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Vijay Kumar informed the Dhali police that the accident occurred due to field preparation work being carried out in Kadoliya village, located above Jholo village. Basar Dutt and Kewal Ram, both residents of Kadoliya, were using a JCB machine (HP63A-5316) for the work. The operation was done carelessly, causing large stones to slide down the hill and strike Geeta Devi and Varsha.
Vijay Kumar has accused the JCB driver, Hari Nand, of negligence, stating that basic safety precautions were not followed during the operation. He claimed that the JCB was operated without proper information or caution, which ultimately led to this tragic incident.
A Shimla police official stated on Monday that a case has been registered at the Dhali police station under sections 125 and 106(1) BNS, based on Vijay Kumar’s statement. The JCB machine involved in the incident has been seized, and the driver, Hari Nand, is being questioned. Additionally, farm owners Basar Dutt and Kewal Ram will also be questioned. The bodies of Geeta Devi and Varsha have been sent for post-mortem, and they will be handed over to the family later today.
The deaths of Geeta Devi and Varsha have left their family in shock. Vijay Kumar described his mother, Geeta Devi, as a hardworking and friendly woman, well-known in the community. His daughter, Varsha, was a final-year B.Com student at RKMV College. She was a bright and promising student with big dreams for her future.
The tragic accident has created an atmosphere of mourning in Jholo village. Villagers have expressed concern that no safety measures were followed while operating the JCB machine, which led to this devastating incident. Village head Sushma Kashyap has called on the authorities to take strict action against those responsible and to implement concrete steps to prevent such accidents in the future.
