Two Manimahesh pilgrims from Punjab were killed in a road accident in Chamba after their motorcycle plunged into a 200-metre-deep gorge on the Pathankot-Bharmour National Highway. The victims were Jyoti and Anil Kumar, both residents of Pathankot.
The two were riding a motorcycle on their way to Bharmour, the base for the Manimahesh pilgrimage, when the accident took place on Saturday night.
How the Chamba Motorcycle Accident Happened
Police said the accident occurred late in the night when the motorcycle reached the stretch near the Hanuman temple. The rider apparently lost control of the vehicle, which skidded off the road and plunged into the gorge. Both riders died on the spot.
Personnel from the Gehra police post, along with locals, reached the spot after the accident. The bodies were retrieved from the gorge and taken to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba.
Police Investigation Underway
Police have started an investigation to find out the exact cause of the accident. The bodies will be handed over to the families after the required procedures.
The stretch near the Hanuman temple on the Pathankot-Bharmour National Highway is part of the route that pilgrims take to reach Bharmour and then travel onward for the Manimahesh pilgrimage.
Our Take: Pilgrim Safety on Hill Roads Needs Attention
This accident is a reminder of how risky hill roads can be, especially at night. Two people who set out with faith and hope for a pilgrimage never reached their destination. In our view, the focus should be on making the Pathankot-Bharmour route safer for the thousands of pilgrims who use it every season.
Steep gorges, sharp turns, and poor visibility at night make this highway dangerous for two-wheeler riders. Better lighting, warning signs at accident-prone stretches, and stricter checks on night travel could help prevent such tragedies. For now, a police investigation will determine what exactly went wrong, but no inquiry can bring back the two lives lost.
To put it plainly, pilgrims deserve a safe journey as much as a safe darshan. Authorities in Chamba and Punjab must look at this route seriously before the next pilgrimage season.