7 Dead as Taxi Plunges 150m Down Uttarakhand Gorge
You know how life can change in an instant? That’s exactly what happened in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district yesterday. Seven lives gone—just like that. A taxi full of people went off the road and fell into this crazy deep gorge. 150 meters. That’s like a 50-story building, if you think about it.
What Actually Went Down
So here’s what we know so far. The taxi was cruising through Muvani—this super remote area with roads that twist like a snake. Then suddenly, boom. No one’s exactly sure why yet, but the car just… went over. And with that kind of drop? There was never going to be a happy ending.
First responders had nightmares getting to the scene. I mean, imagine trying to climb down what’s basically a cliff face while carrying equipment. Took them hours just to recover the bodies.
Eyewitnesses Are Shook
“It sounded like thunder, but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky,” one local shopkeeper told me when I called. His hands were still shaking hours later. Another guy said the taxi just “disappeared” over the edge before anyone could blink.
And here’s the heartbreaking part—these weren’t tourists or anything. All seven were locals. People going about their normal day until suddenly… they weren’t.
The Aftermath
Rescue teams did what they could, but let’s be real—this was recovery, not rescue. The SDRF guys were absolute heroes though, rappelling down that death trap of a slope. Meanwhile, families are getting the worst news imaginable. One woman just kept saying “He was just going to market” over and over.
Now everyone’s asking the obvious questions: Was it the driver? The brakes? That terrible stretch of road that’s been crumbling for years? Honestly, your guess is as good as mine right now.
Officials Making Noise
The district admin’s promising “immediate safety reviews”—which, between you and me, we’ve heard before. They’re talking compensation (Rs. 4 lakh per family), but what’s money when your people are gone?
Social media’s blowing up with #UttarakhandTragedy. Some posts are prayers, others are pure anger: “How many more deaths before they fix these death traps?”
If You’re Traveling Hills
Look, I’m no expert, but here’s what hill folks will tell you:
- Those hairpin turns? Take them at 20kmph, not 40
- Old taxis = rolling coffins. Check tires AND brakes
- Monsoon season? Just don’t. Landslides don’t give warnings
They’re saying they’ll put up more guardrails now. Should’ve happened before, but hey.
Bottom Line
This wasn’t an “accident.” It was a tragedy waiting to happen. Until we stop treating mountain roads like some afterthought, there’ll be more names added to the list. Tonight, seven families are learning to live with that empty chair at dinner. Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Need Help?
- Uttarakhand Emergency: Dial 1070
- Latest updates (when they actually have them)
Source: NDTV Khabar – Latest
