Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 14: Three Vaishno Devi pilgrims were killed, while 13 others including three children were critically injured in a head on collision between tempo and an oil-tanker at Nagrota on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway today.
The ill-fated tempo traveller bearing registration number HR66A-2318 was on its way to Shri Mata Vaishno Shrine at Katra from New Delhi, when it collided head on with oil tanker (JK02AT-2164) coming from Srinagar at Nagrota on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, resulting into critical injuries to 16 persons including three children.
On getting information, police team from Nagrota police station and locals rushed to the spot and started rescue operation. All the injured pilgrims were immediately rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in police and other vehicles.
At GMC Hospital, doctors declared three persons identified as Satan Mandal, son of Anand Mohan Mandal of Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, Surindera, son of Budh Ram, resident of Bhimsingh Pura, Gujarat and Devasheesh Daas Gupta, son of Paklu Dass Gupta, Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh as brought dead, while the 13 injured persons were responding to the treatment, when last reports came in.
The injured have been identified as S Aditya Rao (6), Shefali (8), Mishti (5), Pooja (24), Sanjeet (42), Pushp Lata (50), Shilpi (30), Pushp Dass (48), Biplav Dass Gupta (44) Sudipta (22), SK Swami (38), Rahul (50) and Supria Dass (22), all residents of Chhattisgarh.
A case under FIR number 177/13 has been registered at Nagrota police station and manhunt has been launched to arrest the tanker driver, who fled from the spot leaving behind the vehicle.
However, the tanker driver was at large till late night.
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