Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 25: In a tragic accident, six persons were killed and six others sustained injuries, one of them critically, when a vehicle carrying them plunged into River Chenab in Ramban district early this morning. While four bodies were recovered from the river, two remained untraced and they are believed to have swept away in the gushing waters.
The ill-fated Tavera vehicle bearing registration number JK03D-8876 was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar when it went off the National Highway near Nihad, three kilometers short of Ramban town, and plunged into Chenab at around 5.30 am.
Only driver can be held responsible for this tragic accident as the vehicle plunged into Chenab from the straight road and there was also no mechanical failure in the vehicle as per the statements of the injured passengers.
The driver namely Mohd Ayub, son of Abdullah of Dooru in Anantnag district not only lost his life due to negligent driving but also put five passengers into jaws of death, who were otherwise going to Kashmir valley to earn livelihood by working as labourers.
According to the available information, the vehicle carrying 12 persons including driver left Jammu Bus Stand at around 9 pm and it remained halted at Nandni for quite long time before proceeding for onward journey. When the vehicle reached Nihad, it suddenly went off the road and plunged into Chenab as driver felt sleepy.
Six passengers, who got pushed out of the vehicle before it landed in river, survived the accident while as driver and five others, who remained trapped in the vehicle lost their lives.
On getting information from some locals, rescue teams from different agencies and local volunteers of Red Cross rushed to the spot and started rescue operation.
Troops of 9 para assisted in the rescue operation. Police parties headed by SSP Ramban Randeep Kumar supervised the entire rescue operation.
Six injured passengers were immediately brought out of the gorge and rushed to District Hospital Ramban and condition of one of them was stated to be critical when reports last came in.
Four bodies were recovered when the rescue teams pulled the vehicle out of the river by using cranes while as two others remained untraced despite several hours long hectic efforts by the rescue teams. Believing that remaining two passengers might have swept away in the gushing waters of the river, the rescue teams called off the operation late in the afternoon.
The identity of the recovered bodies has been established as Mohd Ayub (driver), son of Abdullah of Dooru Anantnag and Nizam, son of Mohd Zakir, Rahim, son of Gafoor and Afroz, son of Gafoor, all the residents of Bihar. The passengers, who are believed to have swept away in the river, have been identified as Mohd Ashraf, son of Khushi Mohd and Mohd Karim, son of Gafoor, both the residents of Bihar.
The injured are Mohd Farooq, son of Jamal Din, Mohd Tayyab, son of Mohd Jaleel, Mohd Jahangeer, son of Mohd Rasool, Nizamuddin, son of Allah Din, Mohd Taufiq, son of Mohd Mushtaf and Mohd Rabban, son of Mohd Jaleel, all the residents of Bihar.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the accident.
In his condolence message, the Chief Minister conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls.
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