Manali: A tragic road accident claimed the life of a pedestrian on the Chandigarh–Manali four-lane highway near Pandoh in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district on Friday after a tanker allegedly lost control while negotiating a turn. The entire incident was captured on a nearby CCTV camera, and the footage has since circulated widely on social media.
The deceased has been identified as Jeevan Lal, a resident of Mandi district. According to preliminary information, he was crossing the highway after completing personal work in the area when the tanker approached from behind. CCTV visuals indicate that he had almost crossed the carriageway when the rear portion of the vehicle struck him, causing fatal injuries.
Moments after the impact, the tanker veered sideways and crashed into a bus parked along the roadside. The collision is believed to have prevented the heavy vehicle from overturning, although it could not avert the fatal accident involving the pedestrian.
Local residents rushed to the spot and attempted to assist the injured man, but he had already succumbed to his injuries before medical help could arrive.
Police personnel from the Pandoh outpost reached the accident site soon after receiving information. The body was taken into custody and sent for post-mortem examination at the Civil Hospital. Authorities have also detained the tanker driver and registered a case to determine the circumstances that led to the accident.
Family members said Jeevan Lal earned his livelihood as a daily wage labourer and was the sole breadwinner of the household. He is survived by his wife and three sons. His sudden death has left the family in deep shock.
The incident has once again sparked concerns over road safety on the Chandigarh–Manali highway. Residents and local representatives have questioned the lack of safe pedestrian crossings and alleged that roadside parking near commercial establishments frequently creates hazardous conditions for commuters. They have urged the authorities to improve traffic management and introduce better safety measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Police said further investigation is underway, and officials are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to establish the exact sequence of events leading to the crash.
