By SUNIL SONKER
Mussoorie, 7 Jan: The biting cold and icy conditions on the road once again became the cause of an accident, here, today. A scooter went out of control and fell into a deep ravine on the George Everest-Hathi Paon Road. Two people riding the scooter sustained minor injuries in the accident. Thanks to the prompt action of local residents, both the injured were rescued and admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
According to eyewitnesses, due to the cold, a layer of frost had formed on the road. As soon as the scooter reached that spot, it skidded, and the driver lost control. Due to the lack of guardrails on the roadside, the scooter fell directly into the ravine. If the local people had not reached the spot in time, the accident could have been much more serious. Local residents expressed their anger at the administration and the Public Works Department after the incident. They said that there are no guardrails on the roadside at several places on the George Everest-Hathi Paon Road, which poses a constant risk of accidents.
In the cold weather, two-wheelers constantly skid here due to the ice, and many people have been injured. Local people alleged that they have informed the public representatives, local administration, and Public Works Department officials about this problem several times, but no concrete action has been taken so far. People say that it seems that the concerned department is waiting for a major accident to happen.
According to the police, the scooter has been retrieved and the matter is being investigated. Meanwhile, taking serious note of the absence of parapets along the roadside on the George Everest-Haathi Paon Road, it has been stated that correspondence has been initiated with the department concerned. The administration has also said that efforts will be made to install parapets along the roadside as soon as possible to prevent such accidents in the future. Local residents have demanded that the administration take immediate measures to prevent skidding on the road, especially considering the cold weather, to ensure the safety of tourists and locals.
