Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 12: Four persons were killed and two others sustained injuries when a mini-bus, they were travelling in, skidded off the road and plunged into deep gorge in Kishtwar district early this morning.
The ill-fated vehicle bearing registration number JK06-1361 was on its way from Angara Sarthal to Kishtwar when it met with accident reportedly due to the negligence of conductor, who was driving the vehicle at that time.
On getting information about the accident, police and civil administration swung into action and started rescue operation. After hectic efforts, all the six occupants of the ill-fated mini-bus were brought out of 250 feet deep gorge and shifted to District Hospital where doctors declared four of them as brought dead.
Keeping in view the critical condition of both the injured, the district administration arranged a chopper and got them shifted to Jammu for specialized treatment in the Government Medical College and Hospital. Their condition was stated to be serious when reports last came in.
Reports said that mini-bus had yesterday developed a snag. It could not be ascertained as to whether the fault had completely been rectified before plying the vehicle on the road this morning or it again developed snag while covering the distance between Angara Sarthal to Kishtwar.
The deceased have been identified as Raj Wali, son of Nasarullah of Sarthal , his wife Safia Begum, Niab Chand, son of Kahan Chand of Sarthal and Noor Din, son of Nadia Gujjar of Angara Sarthal.
The injured have been identified as Baji Khan, son of Noor Din and Siri Lal, son of Gusaoon Ram, both the residents of Sarthal.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Mohd Saleem confirmed that vehicle was being driven by the un-trained conductor and this was the main reason behind the tragic accident. “The owner of the ill-fated vehicle owes an explanation for allowing untrained conductor to drive the vehicle”, he said.
In response to a question, he said, “no doubt it is the duty of the Traffic Police to check driving of vehicles by untrained drivers but in this case they cannot be solely held responsible as the accident took place at 6.30 in the morning that too at a spot which is about 32 kilometers from the Kishtwar headquarters”.
Meanwhile, Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the loss of precious human lives in the road accident and conveyed their sympathies to the bereaved families.
The Government has also reminded yet again the Police, Traffic and Transport Departments to enforce effective measures to prevent recurrence of such fatal accidents in future.
Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo sanctioned Rs one lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased persons under Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and Rs 10,000 in favour of injured persons.
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