BhadArwah: Two persons, including the driver of a mini-bus, were killed and 15 others injured on Saturday in a head-on collision between the vehicle and a passenger bus on the highway in Doda district.
The mini-bus was on its way to Jammu from Kishtwar when it was hit by a passenger bus from opposite direction near Karara in Doda on Batote-Kishtwar National Highway at 1330 hours, police said.
“Such was the impact of the collision, that the driver of the mini-bus Mohammad Ramzan died on spot and 16 other passengers, most of them from the mini-bus got injured,” Thathri SHO Vinay Parihar said.
A police party from the adjoining Karara post reached the spot within minutes and with the help of locals shifted all the injured to the district hospital where one of them died,” he said. The deceased have been identified as Driver Mohd Ramzan son of Ghulam Qadir Lone resident of Ghuraka ,Seri of Bhadarwah and Shama Begum wife of Farooq Ahmed resident of Qazikund.
The injured have been identified as Gulshan Begam (45) wife of Abdul Latief , Shafiq Begum(48) wife of Asgar Ali, Mohd Ashraf (45) son of Ghulam Hussain, Asgar Ali (55) son of Ghulam Hussain, Hanifa Begum(51) wife of Abdul Gani, Mohd Sharief (58) son of Mohd Ramzan, Shakeela Begum(40) wife of Mohd Shafi, Parveena Begum(45) wife of Mohd Ashraf, Mohd Shafi (58) son of Ghulam Hussain, Mahtaba Begum(50) wife of Mohd Shafi, Zaitoona Begum(48) wife of Mohd Shafi All resident of Bhalla, Koushalya Devi(55) wife of Subash Chander, Sarla Devi (50) wife of Vijay Kumar both resident of Kishtwar, Shazia Begum (35) wife of Barkat Ali resident of Doda and Abdul Gani (70) so of Muhamdu Batt resident of Khelleni. Meanwhile a case has been registered at Police Station Thathri.
Meanwhile Indian National Congress leaders today expressed extreme grief and sorrow over loss of innocent lives on Batote-Thathri road accident on Saturday.
In a joint statement by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Vice President JKPCC Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, General Secretary Abdul Majid Wani, MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta, Executive member Mohammed Sharief Niaz, congress leaders including Sheikh Mujeeb, Aslam Goni, Asgar Hussain Khangi, Mohd Iqbal, Sarfraz Khan and Shahnawaz Gattuu have expressed grief over the loss of lives in a tragic road accident in Suhgwari Karara area of Doda district.
In their condolence message, Congress leaders have conveyed their sympathy to the bereaved families. They expressed deep concern and dismay over the recurring loss of lives from sustained road accidents in Chenab Valley. In this context, Congress leaders recalled the important discussions held in Assembly, in various meetings and house committee recommendations that need to be implemented on ground but unfortunately the reports and recommendations submitted by me before government is gathering dust.