Faridabad: Thar plunges 100 feet into Aravalli ravine while ‘off-roading’; teen killed

15 year old killed, two critical after SUV fell nearly 100 feet during off roading near Sirohi; police say reverse gear error led to crash.

A 15-year-old boy died, and two others were critically injured after a Mahindra Thar plunged nearly 100 feet into a ravine in the Aravalli hills near Sirohi village in Faridabad on Tuesday, police said. The accident took place between 2pm and 2.30pm while the trio were allegedly driving off-road and performing stunts when the vehicle was accidentally put into reverse gear.

Trio from Ballabgarh were "filming stunts when vehicle slipped into ravine; villagers rescued them and rushed to hospital," police said. (HT Photo)

The deceased was identified as Sohan Kumar, a Class IX student from Siwan district in Bihar, police said. The injured were Vikas Kumar, 20, and Hemant Kumar, 16, who are also from Siwan. Police said all three were neighbours and lived in Balaji Colony in Ballabgarh, Faridabad.

Investigators said both injured victims remain critical and are undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Faridabad. Yashpal Yadav, public relations officer of Faridabad police, said Vikas’s family had purchased the Thar about a month ago. “Vikas took the duo in his Thar and drove to Sirohi and took it on the Aravalli, where they were off-roading and performing stunts while clicking pictures and videos just along the ravine on Tuesday afternoon,” he said.

Investigators said that while performing the stunts, Vikas accidentally put the Thar into reverse gear while attempting to move forward, causing it to plunge into the ravine. Villagers spotted the crash and alerted the police control room while rushing to help. They climbed down, pulled the trio from the mangled vehicle and took them to a nearby hospital, where Sohan was declared dead.

A team from Dhauj police station later reached the spot and retrieved the vehicle using a crane. Officials said no FIR has been registered, as the deceased’s family has not alleged foul play or pressed charges against Vikas.