A fierce storm caused widespread destruction across Kangra district early this morning. In a tragic incident, a massive tree fell on a parked truck in Khowa Panchayat of Nagarota Bagwan around 4:30 AM, killing both the driver and the conductor on the spot.
According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Sanjeev Kumar (42), a resident of Dehra Gopipur, and Tekram Chand (48), a resident of Ridhi Baroh, Kangra. Eyewitnesses reported that both men had just returned to the truck after having tea when the tree suddenly came crashing down.
The truck, loaded with bricks, was completely crushed in the impact. Rescue efforts were launched immediately, with two JCB machines deployed to remove the fallen tree. The operation lasted nearly four hours. The local administration had to cut through the cabin of the truck to retrieve the bodies, which were later sent for postmortem.
The early morning storm also uprooted several electricity poles in various parts of the district, leading to widespread power outages. Executive Engineer of the Electricity Board, Adarsh Bhardwaj, confirmed that teams have been working on a war footing to restore electricity, with most areas regaining power by the afternoon.
The Meteorological Department had earlier issued a warning for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and hailstorms across the region. Authorities have urged residents to remain indoors and take necessary precautions.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a shepherd tragically lost his life in the upper hills of the McLeodganj area after slipping and falling while grazing his flock.
