A Mahindra Scorpio SUV fell off an under-construction bridge near the North Portal of the Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh on the night of July 1, 2026, killing one person and injuring three others. The Atal Tunnel accident occurred around 10 PM as the vehicle was travelling from Manali toward Lahaul-Spiti, police said.
The SUV went over the roadside barricades on a sharp mountain curve and landed on a bridge being built over the Chandra River, where it became lodged in the structure’s steel framework.
Where It Happened
The accident took place on the Manali to Lahaul road, near the point where the Atal Tunnel North Portal opens into the Lahaul valley. This stretch is the only all-season link between Manali and the Lahaul-Spiti region and sees heavy vehicle movement, particularly during the summer travel season.
Atal Tunnel Accident Victim Identified
The deceased has been identified as Kailash Kumar, 34, a resident of Mandota village in Rajasthan’s Sikar district. He was one of four men travelling in the Scorpio at the time of the crash and is the only fatality reported so far.
Three Survivors Under Treatment
The other three occupants of the Scorpio survived the fall and have been admitted to hospital. They have been identified as Siddharth, the driver, and Rajendra, both from Sikar in Rajasthan, along with Aditya, from Lakhimpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Doctors treating the three have described their condition as stable, and all of them remain under observation.
How the Scorpio Fell From the Bridge
According to police, the Mahindra Scorpio accident happened after the driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve on the mountain road. The SUV was overspeeding at the time, police said.
The vehicle broke through the roadside barricades and fell onto the Chandra River bridge accident site, where construction work is still under way. Protruding steel rods from the bridge’s under-construction framework pierced the SUV as it came down, holding it trapped within the structure rather than letting it fall further toward the riverbed below.
Viral Video Shows Vehicle Stuck Between Steel Rods
A video recorded soon after the accident has gone viral on social media, showing the Scorpio wedged between iron rods at the construction site, its body visibly pierced by the structure. The footage has given viewers a clearer sense of how far the vehicle fell before the rods stopped it.
Police Appeal to Drivers
Following the accident, police have appealed to motorists travelling on the Manali to Lahaul road and other high-altitude routes in Himachal Pradesh to avoid overspeeding. The advisory specifically calls for greater caution while driving at night and during the monsoon season, when mountain roads tend to be harder to navigate safely.
For now, the three injured survivors remain under treatment and are reported to be stable, while Kailash Kumar remains the only fatality confirmed in the Atal Tunnel accident so far.
