Elderly couple killed as car plunges into gorge in Shimla outskirts

The deceaseds son Akhil Kumar, who was driving the car, and another occupant Nirmila Devi were injured.The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and the injured are under treatment at a hospital, police said.

An elderly couple died on the spot while their son and another woman sustained injuries after their vehicle plunged 100 metres into a gorge on the Shoghi-Mehli bypass in the outskirts of Shimla town on Sunday, police said.

The impact of the crash was so intense that the vehicle was completely wrecked, they said.

The ill-fated vehicle, with four persons on board, was on its way to Shimla when tragedy struck near a sewerage plant in Badagaon area, officials said.

Preliminary investigation suggests the driver possibly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road before falling into the gorge. A case has been registered under relevant sections and further investigation is underway, they added.

The deceased have been identified as Suman Sharma (69) and his wife Leela Devi (64) -- both residents of Bilaspur. The deceased's son Akhil Kumar, who was driving the car, and another occupant Nirmila Devi were injured.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and the injured are under treatment at a hospital, police said.