2 of Raj family killed, 3 hurt as boulder hits vehicle in Pithoragarh

Dehradun: Two tourists from Rajasthan’s Kota district were killed and three others seriously injured after a boulder crashed onto their Bolero vehicle in Pithoragarh around 1.30 pm on Friday.The accident occurred near Pampabe, about 42 km from Dharchula, when the tourists, all members of the same family, were returning from Panchachuli Base Camp in Darma Valley. The group had earlier visited the Adi Kailash and Om Parvat pilgrimage sites and was on its return journey when the mishap took place.Authorities said two occupants, including the driver, died on the spot. Three injured passengers were rescued and shifted to the sub-district hospital in Dharchula for treatment.Police, revenue officials and local rescue teams rushed to the spot after receiving information about the accident and launched rescue operations to clear debris and evacuate the injured from the damaged vehicle.Preliminary information suggests that the boulder dislodged from a hillside and struck the moving vehicle, although the exact circumstances leading to the incident are being investigated, officials said, adding that the victims’ identities were being verified.