Jammu: Seven people, including a woman and a minor girl, were killed and 17 were injured when an overloaded passenger vehicle veered off a hilly road and plunged into a deep gorge in Doda district on Tuesday, officials said.
The accident took place on the Doda-Bharth road near Ponda, some 30 kms from Doda town, when the driver of a tempo traveller lost control while negotiating a blind curve around 9 am, they said.
Mohammad Ashraf (35), Mangta Wani (51), Atta Mohamed (33), Talib Hussain (35), and Rafeeqa Begum (60) were declared brought dead at Government Medical College Hospital, Doda, while five-year-old Uzma Jan and Shakur Din (30) succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Jammu, the officials said.
Seventeen persons were shifted to hospital by rescuers, and the condition of some of them was stated to be critical, the officials said.
Locals rushed to the scene soon after the vehicle fell into the gorge and were later joined by police and other security agencies’ personnel.
“The vehicle, which was on the way to Doda, was overloaded and a cognizance has been taken,” Deputy Commissioner, Doda, Harvinder Singh told reporters.
He assured adequate relief measures as per the rules to the families of the deceased and best possible treatment to the injured.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Democratic Progressive Azad Party president Ghulam Nabi Azad have condoled the loss of lives in the tragic accident.
In a condolence message, the LG said, “Pained by the loss of lives due to the tragic road accident in Doda. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. Praying for a speedy recovery of the injured.”
In a post on X, the office of the Chief Minister said “…the administration has been directed to ensure immediate medical assistance and support to all affected.”
The Chief Minister extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prays for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to Deputy Commissioner Doda Harvinder Singh upon receiving the information about the accident.
“All possible help and medical aid being provided. DC is personally supervising the entire exercise and giving me regular updates. Any further assistance, as required, will also be provided,” Singh said in a post on X. He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
3 dead, 8 injured in 3 road accidents along Jmu-Sgr nat’l highway
Three people were killed while eight others including three Amarnath pilgrims were injured in three separate road accidents along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, from Ramban to Pulwama district, on Tuesday.
Two persons were killed and two others, including a woman, were critically injured after an Alto car collided with a truck near Dangerpora Padgampora area of Awantipora on Tuesday evening.
Rouf Gull, son of Gull Mohammad Lone from Dardgund, died on the spot. Abdul Rashid Sheikh, son of Ghulam Hassan Sheikh from Devsar, was declared dead on arrival at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar.
The injured were identified as Showkat Ahmad Lone from Dardgund, who is undergoing treatment, and Firdousa, wife of Aijaz Ahmad Lone from Devsar, who remains in critical condition at SMHS Hospital.
In Banihal, one person died and three others were injured when a car collided with a crane working inside the Navyug Tunnel.
Officials said the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where one critically injured person succumbed to his injuries.
The deceased was identified as Tariq Ahmad, son of Abdul Aziz Wani of Banihal, an employee of the Health department.
The remaining two injured persons are undergoing treatment at GMC Anantnag.
In Ramban, three Amarnath pilgrims were injured after a bus, part of the Baltal down convoy, met with an accident inside Tunnel T-1 at Kela Morh in Ramban district. The injured were taken to District Hospital Ramban for treatment.
A couple was injured when a private SUV turned turtle at Bhagwa village of Doda.
