Manali: Five members of a Sindhi family from Gujarat died and four others were injured after their vehicle lost control and plunged into a ditch on the Chamba-Nurpur national highway in Himachal Pradesh early on Wednesday morning.

The victims belonged to the Fatana and Bhopani families from Bhagnagar (Pachanagar) in Gujarat. The group of 10 people, including the driver, was returning from a family tour to Manali when the tragedy occurred. Police said the driver lost control of the car at an early hour while people were returning from a walk, and the vehicle fell into a ditch.

The deceased have been identified as Lalitbai Fatani (59), her daughter-in-law Soniben (56), another daughter-in-law Kajalbhen (36), Kalitabai Jatani Priyankbai (39), and a nine-year-old grandson. Lalitbai’s husband Mayankbhai, son Jignesh, daughter-in-law Forumben, son Jiansh, and daughter-in-law Priyanashi are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Manali. The driver, Jasvant Kumar (51), a resident of Kohra village in Jogindernagar tehsil of Mandi district, also died in the accident.

Chamba police superintendent Vijay Kumar Saklani said, the bodies were recovered from the ditch and sent for post-mortem to Chamba Chuari Hospital. The injured are stated to be out of danger.

Suresh Makheja, a friend of the deceased family, said Lalitbai Fatani lived in the Ghogha Sarkal Printing Society of Bhavnagar and was also a social servant engaged in brokerage work. The family had gone for a persuasive walk when the accident happened.

The news of the tragedy spread rapidly, causing widespread shock and grief in the Sindhi community. Kamlesh Chandani, regional president of the Sindhi society of Panchanagar, said the entire community is deeply saddened. He confirmed that four people from Panchanagar had left for Manali and that community leaders are in constant touch with the Himachal region administration for necessary assistance and arrangements to bring the bodies back to Gujarat.

“The bodies will be handed over after completion of the government process and are expected to reach by tomorrow evening,” Chandani said. He added that the Sindhi society has sent leaders to the home of the deceased to comfort the family.

Police have initiated an investigation into the cause of the accident. Officials suspect that heavy rains may have caused the soil to slip, leading the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

The Sindhi community has prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family. The last rites of the deceased will be performed in Gujarat after the bodies are brought back.

This heartbreaking accident has cast a pall of gloom over the Sindhi society in Gujarat, which frequently organizes group tours to Himalayan destinations. DeshGujarat