Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 11: Four persons were killed and four others sustained injuries when a Xylo vehicle, they were traveling in, plunged into gorge at Suigarhi near Prem Nagar in Doda district this morning.
The ill-fated vehicle bearing registration number JK14A-9945 was on its way from Chirala (Thalela) to Jammu when it met with accident at around 10 am reportedly due to the negligence of the driver. The vehicle was being driven very rashly and negligently when it went off the road.
The vehicle collided with several boulders before stopping on the slopes of the 300 feet deep gorge thereby causing severe injuries to all the eight occupants including driver. On getting information about the accident, a police team immediately rushed to the spot and started rescue operation with the help of locals.
After hectic efforts, all the injured persons were brought out of the gorge and rushed to District Hospital Doda where three of them were pronounced as brought dead. Later, one injured person succumbed to injuries raising the toll in the accident to four.
District Development Commissioner (DDC) Doda, Farooq Ahmad Khan visited the District Hospital Doda and enquired about the condition of the injured persons. He directed the hospital authorities to provide all possible treatment to the injured. He also announced financial assistance out of the Red Cross Fund to the injured persons and the kin of the deceased.
Keeping in view the critical condition of three injured persons, the administration decided to shift them to Jammu for specialized treatment in the Government Medical College and Hospital. Later, these three persons including driver were shifted to Jammu in an ambulance. Their condition was stated to be out of danger when reports last came in.
SP Doda, Mohd Arif Rishu, who also visited the spot of accident to ascertain the cause behind the tragic mishap, said, “the preliminary investigation revealed that ill-fated vehicle was being driven rashly and negligently and this was the main cause of mishap”.
The deceased have been identified as Ramesh Kumar (40), son of Thakur Lal of Shilote Bijarni, Abdul Karim Malik (53), son of Gander Malik of Thalela, Farid Ganai (35), son of Zareef Ganai of Bheja Chirala and Rajesh Kumar (35), son of Hari Chand of Udrana Bhaderwah.
The injured admitted in the Government Medical College and Hospital are Vijay Kumar (26), son of Lehar Singh of Bholi Bhella Chirala, Momin Khan (10), son of Mohammad Iqbal Khan of Green Colony, Bhaderwah and Parveen Kumar (38), son of Bansi Lal of Thalela. The injured undergoing treatment in District Hospital Doda has been identified as Yasir Ali (23), son of Ghulam Qadir Khan of Bershala Chirala.