Srinagar: Three tourists from Maharashtra and their local driver were killed and 17 people injured when a bus and a taxi collided on the Srinagar-Sonamarg road in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir on Sunday, officials said.
Both the vehicles sustained major damages in the accident, which took place at Gund.
Officials said the injured people are undergoing treatment.
A police official identified the deceased as Leshia Ashish, Nikki Ashish and Hetal Ashish, all residents of Maharashtra. Faheem Ahmad, the local driver, was also killed in the accident, he said.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed their sorrow over the deaths.
“I am deeply saddened to learn about the loss of precious lives in a tragic road accident in Ganderbal today. My sincere condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. Praying for the early recovery of the injured,” Sinha said in a statement.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic road accident on the highway near Gund, Kangan, which has claimed several lives and left many others injured. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the swift recovery of the injured. Authorities are providing all possible assistance,” Abdullah said in a post on the chief minister’s X handle.
In yet another accident, an eight-year-old boy was killed at Hariganiwan market in the same district, officials said on Sunday.
Quoting officials, new agency KNO reported that an accident occurred at Hariganiwan market when an SUV (HR51CG-7761) hit an eight-year-old boy, Afsaan Ahmad Thekry, son of Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Hariganiwan, Kangan.
The boy was immediately rushed to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kangan for treatment, where he was declared dead upon arrival.
Meanwhile, the authorities have launched an investigation into the matter while the driver has been taken into custody, the officials said.
