Nishikant Khajuria
REASI, Dec 14: Three children among seven persons died when a car carrying 10 passengers rolled down in a deep gorge at Harotkot in Sujandhar area, under the jurisdiction of Reasi Police Station, here late last night.
Driver among three others in the car sustained serious injuries in the accident and all of them have been admitted at Government Medical College Hospital Jammu.
The accident took place around 11.30 pm, last night when the Zen car, bearing registration number JK02H-1515 rolled down into a deep gorge at Harotkot. The victims were on the way from Sujandhar to Chourakote after attending a marriage function when the mishap occurred.
Four persons died on the spot while three others, including two children, succumbed to their injuries on way to the hospital.
Even as overloading seemed to be apparent cause of the accident, police did not rule out the possibility of driver being drunk because of his criminal background.
Locals were the first to reach the site of accident who were soon joined by SDRF and Police teams, led by DySp Headquarters Nikhil Gogna, in the rescue operation.
With the help of search lights and ropes, victims were evacuated from wreckage of the car and shifted to hospital where doctors declared three of them as brought dead. They were identified as Bikram Singh (9), son of Bhori Singh of Chourakote, tehsil Bhamag, Pankaj Singh (8), son of Uttam Singh of Chourakote and Raghunath Singh (20), son of late Balwant Singh of Chourakote.
Karan Singh (40), son of Balak Ram of Harotekote, tehsil Bhamag, Ram Singh (14), son of Baldev Singh of Harotekote, Surdhol Singh (22), son of Jameet Singh of Atrankote, tehsil Bhamag and Romesh Singh (25), son of Gandharb Singh of Atrankote had died on the spot of accident.
Three injured, identified as Uttam Singh (32), son of Munshi Ram of Chourakote, Pardev Singh (21), son of Bhodhi Singh of Harotekote and driver Lehar Singh (29), Tej Ram of Harotekote, were soon referred from District Hospital Reasi to GMC Hospital Jammu in view of their critical condition.
In this connection, Police has registered a case FIR number 2011/2018, under section 279/337 and 304 of RPC at Police Station Reasi.
Overloading and rash driving seemed to be apparent reasons for the cause of accident as the car driver Lehar Singh has criminal background and he had also undergone seven- years jail term in a murder case, Police said.
Meanwhile, National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah have expressed deep sorrow and anguish over the loss of seven precious lives including three children in the fateful road accident at Sujandhar.
They expressed their heartfelt condolences to the kith and kin of those who lost their loved ones and prayed for strength to the bereaved families to bear the loss.
NC Provincial president Jammu, Devendar Singh Rana and others have also expressed deepest sympathies with those who lost their loved ones.
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