They were just a kilometre away from where they lived

Four people returning home after a New Year party-cum-birthday bash died when their car hit a roadside barrier before careening into a parked truck near Kullu on Chandigarh-Manali highway early Friday.

The victims, including three women, died less than 1km from their homes. Police identified the deceased as Satpal (25), a tattoo artist and resident of Kullu; Ankita (20) from Tandi in Lahaul-Spiti; Kashish (20), a resident of Jallugran village in Kullu; and Ratanjali (20) of Sachani village in Bhuntar. The women lived in rented apartments in Kullu, police said. Satpal, who ran a tattoo studio in Kullu's Akhara Bazaar, celebrated his 20th birthday on New Year's Eve.

Police said he and his friends decided to party in Kasol in neighbouring Parvati valley, an hour's drive away. Around 3am, while returning to Kullu, Satpal allegedly lost control of the car near Bhootnath bridge, police said. It bounced off a 'parapet', swung right, and rammed into a stationary truck. A few passersby informed cops and helped evacuate the victims from the mangled car. They were taken to the nearby Regional Hospital, but three of them were declared dead on arrival.

Ratanjali was clinging to life when she was referred to Nerchowk GMCH in Mandi, 80km away, but she succumbed on the way. A cop said the cause of the accident was under investigation, but from preliminary probe, it appeared the car was being driven at high speed. Police registered a case and handed over the bodies to their families after autopsy. There were two more accidents during the day. Two tourists had a miraculous escape after their car fell into a rivulet. Luckily, some locals saw it happen and jumped into the water to save them. The duo was injured but alive.