Seven people were killed in a road accident late Wednesday night after the vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Chhatrund on the Chamba-Masroond road in Chamba district.The victims are residents of Mahal village under Kuthed gram panchayat.They were returning home after attending a function at another village when the accident occurred.According to initial reports, the vehicle went out of the driver’s control near Chhatrund and rolled down a steep gorge. The impact was so severe that the vehicle was completely mangled. Six occupants died on the spot, while another succumbed to injuries later, taking the death toll to seven. The deceased include three women and three men, while the identity of all victims was being formally verified by authorities.Local residents rushed to the scene after hearing the crash and informed the police and administration. Rescue teams, along with local volunteers, launched an operation to retrieve the victims and clear the wreckage.Residents of the area pointed out that the accident spot does not have a crash barrier despite being located on a dangerous stretch with a steep drop into the gorge.Superintendent of Police Chamba, Vijay Kumar Saklani said that a police team was rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the accident. He said relief and rescue operations were carried out promptly and that efforts were under way to gather details about the deceased and injured. The exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.