A tragic accident on the Gopeshwar–Pokhri road in Chamoli district claimed the lives of three family members when their car veered off the road, plunged into a deep gorge, and caught fire. The deceased include a couple and their 22-year-old son, while the elder son sustained serious injuries.
Our correspondent reports that the ill-fated car, driven by Arvind Tripathi (31), was travelling from Vashal-Pav village to Dehradun on Wednesday evening. Arvind was accompanied by his wife Anita (25), younger son Anant (22), and elder son Ambuj (25). Around 6 p.m., the car reportedly lost control on a sharp curve near Pokhri bend, skidded off the road, and plunged into a 150-metre-deep gorge, before bursting into flames.
Our correspondent adds that the impact of the crash was so severe that the vehicle was completely gutted within minutes. Arvind, Anita, and Anant died on the spot, while Ambuj managed to escape from the wreckage with the help of local residents who rushed to the scene after hearing an explosion. He was later rescued in critical condition and admitted to the District Hospital in Gopeshwar for emergency treatment.
Police officials from the Gopeshwar police station and personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reached the accident site immediately after receiving the alert. However, the rescue operation was delayed due to poor visibility, rugged terrain, and the intense flames consuming the vehicle. The operation continued late into the night until the fire was completely doused.
According to preliminary findings, the fire may have been triggered by a fuel leakage following the fall, which caused an electrical short circuit and led to the explosion. Investigators are also examining whether speeding or brake failure contributed to the mishap.
Locals told authorities that the road section where the incident occurred is narrow, steep, and poorly lit, with no guard rails or warning signs. Several residents have raised concerns about the lack of safety infrastructure on this stretch, which has witnessed multiple accidents in recent years.
Arvind Tripathi was an Executive Engineer with the Irrigation Department in Dehradun, and the family had travelled to their ancestral village to celebrate Diwali. They were returning home when tragedy struck.
District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana expressed grief over the incident and assured that a road safety audit of the Gopeshwar–Pokhri route will be conducted. The Public Works Department has been directed to install crash barriers and reflectors at accident-prone bends within the next fifteen days.
This tragic incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers of hill driving, especially during late evening travel. Officials have urged motorists to maintain moderate speed, avoid night driving in hilly terrain, and regularly service their vehicles to prevent mechanical failures.
