8 killed in Reasi, Ramban accidents

Gopal Sharma

Debris of ill-fated car which rolled down from bridge near Pouni in Reasi on Friday. —Excelsior/Mengi
Debris of ill-fated car which rolled down from bridge near Pouni in Reasi on Friday. —Excelsior/Mengi

JAMMU, July 25: Eight persons including two couple and a Head Constable of J&K Police, were killed in three separate road accidents in Reasi and Ramban districts of Jammu region today.
Reports said four persons including an Armed Police Head Constable and a couple from Rajouri, were killed when their car fell into a nallah from a bridge near Pouni in district Reasi this morning. The incident  took place at around 8 am when they were going for mourning on the death of their relative at Bharakh in Reasi. They started from Naban Mohalla in Rajouri in two separate cars early morning.
As the ill-fated Santro car No. JK02AP/ 2426 reached at  `Neela Tub’ , the driver lost control on the speeding car and it landed into the nallah. All the four persons on board, were killed on the spot as the car fell on big boulders/ rocks. Actually the driver of this vehicle was following the other car. Near, Pouni Domail, this vehicle moved in  direction. After reaching Pouni bazaar, the people told that they were on wrong side. Then the driver of this vehicle took turn and started towards Bharakh in speed. At ‘Neela Tub’ there is sharp curve and the bridge has no railings, the vehicle could not be controlled and rolled down from bridge.
The local people alleged that this bridge has no railings and the road is narrow. The GREF has not properly maintained the road at this point. Last year, two youth had been killed at this point as their bike rolled down. The boys were going to distribute marriage cards. A tipper had also fell down from the same point a few months back in which three persons were critically injured and one of them later died.
All the dead bodies were removed to Pouni hospital by police and the occupants of other car also reached there after coming to know about mishap.  The deceased were identified as Head Constable Mohd Rashid (48), his brother- in- law Mohd Zuber, Prevez Akhar  wife of Mohd Zuber and Zuber’s mother Razia Begum (55), all residents of Naban Mohalla Rajouri. Rashid was deployed as PSO with Mustafa Azad, brother of  Ghulam Nabi Azad. Mohd Rashid basically hailed from Behramgalla in Bafliaz but now he has been settled at Rajouri ( Ward No.10).  All the dead bodies were handed over to the family after postmortem at Pouni hospital this afternoon. The burial also took place in Rajouri this evening in which a large number of people from all walks of life attended.
Meanwhile, a couple was killed when a Maruti WagnR bearing registration No. DL3CAW/1981, which was on way to Jammu from Srinagar, skidded off the road and fell into gorge at Ratanbaas, just 3 kms short of  Banihal this afternoon.
A police spokesman said that the vehicle was being driven by one Imran Ahmed Sheikh (35), son of Ghulam Mohd Sheikh, resident of  Nawa Kadal, Srinagar.  Both husband and wife- Shaista Begum were travelling towards Jammu from Srinagar. The dead bodies of the couple were removed to Banihal hospital by police. Later, the family members also reached there. The police after postmortem and performing all the legal formalities handed over the bodies to the family.
Another report said that a truck driver and his cleaner were washed away as their load carrier fell into mighty river Chenab near Ramban bridge early today. Police said the vehicle bearing registration No  JK02A/8496 was on way to Banihal from Udhampur. It was coming from Chanderkot area and heading towards Chenab  bridge, 3 kms short of Ramban. Apparently due to some mechanical failure, the driver could not negotiate curve and the vehicle rolled down into river Chenab. Some onlookers raised alarm and the truck was seen getting washed away in the river for some distance and then it submerged into the river.  Later, Traffic Police men and Ramban Police officials reached there and started search but it could not be traced. Driver of the truck Parshotam Singh hailed from Udhampur area. The identity of cleaner could not be established. The police has taken cognizance of the matter.