Pithoragarh. 22 Feb 2026.
A tragic road accident on Sunday evening claimed the lives of a couple on the Tanakpur–Tawaghat National Highway. The car they were travelling in lost control near the Ghat area and plunged nearly 200–250 meters into a deep gorge.
According to information received via emergency helpline 112, the accident occurred about one kilometre ahead of Matela Bend, near Shaheed Dwar. The vehicle (UK 06 AZ 8788) reportedly lost balance and fell into the gorge. Ghat outpost in-charge Jitendra Soradi said two people were inside the car.
Upon receiving the alert, teams from SDRF, Kotwali Pithoragarh police, disaster control, and local authorities rushed to the spot along with a 108 ambulance. After a difficult rescue operation, both victims were pulled out of the gorge and brought to the road, but they had already succumbed to their injuries.
The deceased have been identified as Yogesh Kumar (38), son of Jeevan Ram and a resident of Bajeti, and his wife Nidhi Arya (34). Yogesh was posted as a senior clerk in the Public Works Department in Takana, Pithoragarh, while his wife was serving in a government role in Ranikhet.
Preliminary reports suggest the couple had attended a family wedding in Gangolihat. After the wedding procession reached Lohaghat, they were returning to Pithoragarh when the accident occurred.
The incident has left the family devastated, and a wave of grief has spread across the village. Police have initiated procedures to shift the bodies to the district headquarters and are investigating the cause of the accident.
