3 of a family killed as vehicle falls into 400m gorge in Chamoli, Uttarakhand
Synopsis
A family travelling to attend a relative's last rites lost three of its own members when their vehicle plunged into a 400–500 metre gorge near Lwani village in Chamoli at dawn on 30 May. The driver is suspected to have fallen asleep — a grim detail that underscores the deadly toll of fatigue on Uttarakhand's mountain roads.
Key Takeaways
Three people killed — Balbir Singh (52) , Shanti Devi (48) , and Anshu Bisht (18) — after their vehicle fell into a gorge in Chamoli, Uttarakhand on 30 May 2025 .
The accident occurred at approximately 5:50 am near Lwani village in a forest area; the gorge was 400–500 metres deep .
Three others — Kavita Devi (32) , Mayank Singh (8) , and Roshni (18) — were injured and are receiving hospital treatment.
Preliminary findings suggest the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel; investigation is ongoing.
The family was travelling to attend the final rites of Bhajan Singh , whose remains were being transported from Dehradun in a separate ambulance.
A joint rescue operation by police , DDRF , and local administration retrieved the victims from the gorge.
Three members of a family were killed and three others injured on Saturday, 30 May, after the vehicle they were travelling in plunged into a 400–500 metre deep gorge in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, officials said. The accident occurred at around 5:50 am near Lwani village in a forest area, triggering a multi-agency rescue operation.
How the Accident Unfolded
According to officials, the vehicle veered off the road and fell into the gorge. Sub-Inspector Sandeep Devrani, in charge of the Dewal Police Outpost, alerted the Station House Officer (SHO) of Tharali after receiving information about the crash. The SHO immediately led a police team to the site, while the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Tharali was also informed and a District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) team was deployed for rescue and relief.
Preliminary findings suggest the driver may have briefly fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to lose control. However, authorities said the investigation is continuing to establish the exact cause.
The Family's Circumstances
Balbir Singh, a resident of Bank village in the Lohajung area, was travelling with family members to his native village to attend the final rites of a relative. According to officials, the mortal remains of Bhajan Singh — who had passed away in Dehradun while undergoing treatment — were being transported separately in a private ambulance. Balbir Singh and the others were travelling in a second vehicle to accompany the deceased. A total of six people were in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
The Deceased and Injured
The three people killed in the crash have been identified as Balbir Singh (52), his wife Shanti Devi (48), and their son Anshu Bisht (18). The three injured passengers are Kavita Devi (32), Mayank Singh (8), and Roshni (18). Rescue teams retrieved the injured from the gorge and shifted them to a nearby hospital by ambulance, where they are currently receiving medical care, officials said.
Rescue Operation
Personnel from the police, the DDRF, and the local administration worked jointly for several hours to evacuate the victims and clear the accident site. Officials confirmed that all required legal procedures are being followed and further investigation is underway.
Road accidents in mountainous districts of Uttarakhand remain a persistent concern, particularly on narrow forest roads where driver fatigue and poor visibility are recurring risk factors. This incident is among several such tragedies reported in the state's hilly terrain in recent months.
Point of View
Yet enforcement of rest mandates on private vehicles remains virtually absent. The state's disaster response machinery activated quickly here, but the question of prevention — speed limits, fatigue advisories, road condition audits on forest stretches — rarely follows these incidents into policy discussion.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Chamoli gorge accident on 30 May 2025?
A vehicle carrying six family members plunged into a 400–500 metre deep gorge near Lwani village in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, at around 5:50 am on 30 May 2025. Three people were killed and three others were injured in the crash.
Who were the victims of the Chamoli accident?
The three deceased have been identified as Balbir Singh (52), his wife Shanti Devi (48), and their son Anshu Bisht (18). The three injured are Kavita Devi (32), Mayank Singh (8), and Roshni (18), all of whom are undergoing hospital treatment.
What caused the vehicle to fall into the gorge?
Preliminary findings suggest the driver may have briefly fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to lose control and plunge into the gorge. Authorities said the investigation is continuing to confirm the exact cause.
Why was the family travelling at that hour?
The family was returning to their native village in the Lohajung area to attend the final rites of Bhajan Singh, a relative who had died in Dehradun while undergoing treatment. His mortal remains were being transported in a separate private ambulance.
How was the rescue carried out?
A joint rescue operation involving police, the District Disaster Response Force (DDRF), and the local administration retrieved the injured from the gorge. They were shifted to a nearby hospital by ambulance and are currently receiving medical care.
