A 14-year-old girl was killed after a massive boulder crashed onto a moving car from a hillside on the Dhakog-Banni road in the remote Bharmour subdivision of Chamba district on Monday, highlighting the growing threat of rockfalls on mountain roads during the monsoon.
The deceased was identified as Dikshita, a resident of Naddi village near Dharamsala.
According to the police, two families from Dharamsala had travelled in separate vehicles to offer prayers at a temple in the area. While they were returning, a large boulder suddenly rolled down the hillside and struck one of the cars, seriously injuring the girl.
She was rushed to a nearby health facility, where doctors declared her dead.
The incident triggered panic among the occupants of the vehicle, while local residents rushed to the spot to assist the injured and inform the authorities.
A police team reached the site soon after receiving the information, completed the legal formalities and sent the body for post-mortem examination.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns over the safety of mountain roads in Chamba during the monsoon season, when persistent rainfall often loosens rocks and triggers landslides and rockfalls.
Residents have urged the administration to strengthen safety measures by regularly monitoring vulnerable stretches and installing protective barriers to reduce the risk of such incidents.
