The accident occurred around 10:00 p.m. on 1/7 at the north portal of the Atal tunnel in Himachal Pradesh. Police reported one fatality and three injuries among the occupants of the Mahindra Scorpio SUV, who were from Rajasthan.

Video footage from the scene shows that upon exiting the north portal, the road makes a sharp right turn, with a river immediately ahead. Given the darkness, the driver likely did not anticipate this turn and continued straight. The SUV crashed through a barrier and plunged onto the construction site for a bridge spanning the river, landing amidst many upward-pointing steel rods.

Rescue efforts were significantly hampered by the vehicle being trapped. After considerable effort, firefighters and police successfully extricated the deceased driver and the three injured passengers from the SUV.

Following the incident, local police issued a warning to tourists, advising against night travel and speeding in mountainous regions. They emphasized caution, particularly during the monsoon season when roads are slippery and visibility is reduced.