New Delhi, Dec. 17 -- A potentially fatal mishap was averted on Wednesday near the popular hill town of Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh when a tourist van carrying several passengers lost control and began rolling down a steep slope.

The vehicle narrowly escaped plunging into a deep gorge after crashing into a roadside tree, which ultimately stopped its descent. Prompt action by locals and nearby tourists helped rescue all the passengers from the accident site.

Video posted on social media shows the tense reactions leading up to the incident. In the video, a group of women can be seen boarding a van that was parked on an incline. Suddenly, the vehicle reverses, causing commotion among the passengers. The women lose their balance and try t...