Srinagar: Three people, who were among those holding a protest demanding repair of drinking water supply pipes, were killed after a truck accidentally knocked them down in Udhampur district on Friday, officials said.
Six others were injured and they were shifted to the district hospital, they said.
Local news agency KNO reported that a large number of people from Baishty and other adjoining villages of the area assembled on Sudhmahadev road in Udhampur district and held a protest against National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and other agencies engaged in highway construction works, demanding repair of drinking water supply pipes.
The protest lasted for a few hours, during which officials from police and civil administration pacified the protestors by assuring them to get their demands redressed by the concerned authorities.
Police said that soon after this protest ended and people were dispersing, the driver of a truck (JK01X-4682) moving on the road failed to negotiate a blind curve and lost control over the vehicle, hitting two other light motor vehicles on the road, and crushed some people standing along the roadside.
While three people were killed on the spot, six others sustained injuries who were shifted to hospital where condition of three of the injured was stated to be critical, the news agency reported.
It identified the deceased as Abdul Rashid (60), son of Hassan Din; Savitri Devi (38), wife of Sudesh Kumar, and Sarishta Devi (33), wife of Subash Chander, all residents of Baishty.
The injured include Mubashar Ahmed (three), Altaf Hussain (15), Gian Chand (57), Barket Begum (60), Shahin Akhter (29) and Muhammad Ramzan (28).
Soon after this incident, another protest hit the area with a large number of agitated people assembling on the road against this accident. The protesters were later pacified by the officers of police and civil administration.
Police said that a case (FIR no. 43/2022 U/S 279/337/304-A) has been registered at the local police station and further investigation is on.
The district administration has also ordered an inquiry into the incident.
LG tweets:
Deeply anguished by the unfortunate road accident in Udhampur.Condolences to the bereaved families.Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured.Directed district administration to provide best possible treatment to injured& to render all assistance to the kin of the victims.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) April 8, 2022
“Deeply anguished by the unfortunate road accident in Udhampur. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured. Directed district administration to provide best possible treatment to injured& to render all assistance to the kin of the victims.”
