Akshay Kaura, a 29-year-old stock market trainer, died when his car plunged nearly 300-400 metres into a gorge at Narghota near Dharamsala. The incident has drawn attention to the deteriorating condition of roads in Kangra district, with residents questioning whether timely repairs could have prevented the tragedy.
Accident details and immediate response
Two days after the accident, the Public Works Department (PWD) installed a stone barricade and caution board at the site. CCTV footage reportedly shows Kaura's vehicle travelling at a controlled speed before encountering a road slide that began from the middle of the carriageway, making it difficult for motorists to detect in time.
PWD Sub-Divisional Officer Balbit, posted at Gaggal, confirmed that the road slide had existed since August last year. He added that the department only installed the caution board and stone barricading after the fatal accident.
Family's loss and meeting with CM
Kaura was the sole breadwinner of his family, leaving his elderly parents devastated. On Friday, they met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at the Circuit House in Dharamsala. The CM assured them that a comprehensive inquiry would be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Advocate Aashima Kalra, who has stepped forward to support the family, said she would challenge the FIR in court, arguing against holding the victim responsible for a tragedy linked to a neglected road.
Residents' allegations and official response
Residents allege that repeated complaints about the damaged stretch, broken road edges, blind curves, and absence of crash barriers were ignored. They question why authorities act only after lives are lost. Officials attribute the delay in repairs to a shortage of funds and the non-availability of bitumen.
Residents are calling for a road safety audit, timely maintenance, and greater accountability. For Kaura's grieving family, no inquiry can undo the loss of a promising young man whose future ended on a stretch of road that many say had been crying out for attention for months.
