LG, Dr Jitendra, Azad express grief, announced ex-gratia
STATE TIMES NEWS
Bhadarwah/Jammu: Eight people were killed and 17 sustained injuries after three vehicles plunged into deep gorges in Doda and Ramban districts in separate incidents on Tuesday, police said.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said he was extremely pained by the loss of lives in the accidents, while Union Minister and local Member of Parliament Jitendra Singh said he is in constant touch with the concerned authorities and assured full assistance to the kin of the victims and survivors.
In a tweet, the Lt Governor said, “Extremely pained by the loss of lives in unfortunate road accidents in Doda and Ramban. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the early recovery of the injured. Directed the DCs to ensure all necessary assistance to the affected.”
The Lt Governor also announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased. Rs. 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Bhaderwah, Vinod Sharma said five people Ghulam Natri Atti, son of Mohd Atto, resident of Ludna Doda; Vinod Kumar, son of Lt Mehar Chand Manhas, resident of Bhaderwah; Firdous Ahmed, son of Ghulam Ahmed Naik, resident of Chapnadi Banihal; Barkatullah Hajam, son of Ghulam Hajam, resident of Ghat Doda and Sher Chand, son of Bahlia resident of Basholi were killed when a vehicle rolled down 250 feet into a gorge near Chattergalla top on Bhaderwah-Pathankot national highway.
He said 12 other passengers travelling in the vehicle, which was on its way to Bhaderwah from the Bani area of Kathua district, were rescued in an injured condition and shifted to a hospital.
The injured have been identified as Irshad Ahmed (39), son of Abdul Ahad Wani , resident of Bhasath Udhyan Pur Doda; Naresh Kumar (22), son of Madan Lal, resident of Khilor Teh Bani; Mohd Abdullah (40), son of Mohd Naik, resident of Gundana Doda; Sadiq Ali (24), son of Farooq Ahmed, resident of Gundana Doda; Bilala Ahmed (24), son of Ghulam Rasool Butt, resident of Gundana Doda; Mohd Shafi Butt (24), son of Abdul Aziz Butt, resident of Gundana Doda, Tariq Irfan (27), son of Farooq Ahmed, resident of Nalthi Bhaderwah; Rafiq Ahmed (28), son of Abdul Ahmed, resident of Gundana Doda; Nadeem Ahmed (27), son of Abdul Rashid Malik, resident of Udhyan Pur Doda; Nazir Ahmed (35) resident of Doda and Riaz Ahmed (24), son of Manzoor Ahmed resident of Gundana Doda.
A group of tourists present at Guldanda meadows saw the vehicle rolling down the hill and raised an alarm, following which a rescue operation was launched immediately by police and locals.
Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad has expressed shock and grief over the loss of lives in a tragic road accident in Bhaderwah.
In a condolence message, Azad said, “I send my heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved families and wish those injured a speedy recovery.”
Soon after learning about this devastating road accident, Azad asked party workers in the area to provide assistance to injured and victim families.
He has stressed on the administration to provide compensation to the next of kin of those killed in the accident and those who got injured in this road accident. Azad has prayed for speedy recovery of injured persons.
Deputy Commissioner, Doda Vishesh Mahajan, who along with SSP Doda Abdul Qayoom visited the injured in the hospital, said the reason behind the accident would be known only after an investigation.
However, he said the injured driver informed him that his steering wheel got loose and he lost control of the vehicle.
In another incident, one Javaid Ahmad died and four others sustained injuries when their vehicle plunged into a deep gorge in the Bhalla area of Doda, officials said.
The injured have been sent to a hospital, they said.
In Ramban district, two people Mohammad Afzal and Mohammad Azmat were killed when their car skidded off the road and fell over 200 metres into a gorge along Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Rampari, officials said.
They said another person, Shabir Ahmad Malik, was critically injured in the accident and has been sent to a hospital by the rescue team.
Dr Jitendra Singh also termed the loss of lives in the road accidents as “unfortunate” and said two of the seriously injured are being airlifted to Jammu for specialised treatment.
“All further assistance, as required, will be provided. I am in constant touch,” he wrote on Twitter after hearing about the accident on the Bhaderwah-Kishtwar highway.
