Magisterial inquiry ordered
Ajay Raina
RAMBAN, Nov 13: Three persons were killed while 11 others sustained injuries when an overloaded Tata Sumo they were travelling in skidded off the road and plunged into deep gorge near Digdol area here along Jammu-Srinagar National Highway this morning.
The ill-fated vehicle bearing registration JK03A-6391 was on its way to Banihal from Jammu when the driver lost control and it plunged into deep gorge near Digdol area along Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, resulting into on the spot death of two persons and injuries to 12 others.
After getting information, police team rushed to the spot and started rescue operation with the help of locals, QRT and army personnel.
All the injured persons were retrieved from the gorge and shifted to District Hospital (DH) Ramban, from where nine injured persons were referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Jammu for specialised treatment. One more injured succumbed to his injuries at GMCH Jammu thereby raising the death toll to 3.
The deceased were identified as Gulzar (19), son of Irfan, Sameer (24), son of Tahir and Ashu, trio residents of Uttar Pradesh.
The injured were identified as Jameela (7), daughter of Fayaz of Neel, Nasir Khan (19), son of Arshad Khan of Uttar Pradesh, Aikra (2.5), Akya (8), Ara Bano (4), daughter of Fayaz of Neel, Soib Khan (18), son of Akhter of Uttar Pradesh, Sohil Khan, son of Irfan Khan of Uttar Pradesh, Manzoor Ahmed (driver), son of Bashir Ahmed of Neel, Khaleda Begum (35), wife of Fayaz Ahmed of Neel, Arif (22), son of Akhter of Uttar Pradesh and Usman (19), son of Akbar of Uttar Pradesh.
A case under relevant Sections has been registered at Police Station Ramban and investigation started.
Despite repeated accidents in the mountainous belt of Jammu and Kashmir, no check is being kept on the vehicles indulging in overloading.
“Overloading by the drivers of the passenger vehicles has become a routine affair in this district and no one from the concerned departments is taking any strict action against them”, locals said, adding that the best way to curb accidents is to penalise these drivers with hefty fine.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed condolence to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
In a tweet, the Lt Governor said, “Deeply anguished to learn about the loss of lives in a road accident at Digdole, Ramban. My condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of injured”.
However, Additional District Magistrate, Ramban, Harbans Sharma ordered a magisterial inquiry into the circumstances leading to the accident.
In an order, Sharma appointed Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ramsoo Dil Mir as inquiry officer and asked him to submit his report by November 20.
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