Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, Apr 22: A woman and her daughter were killed, while two others escaped unhurt when their Wagon-R car was hit by a boulder near landslide hit Kuligad area at Drabshalla on Doda-Kishtwar highway today.
The ill-fated vehicle bearing registration number JK17-1896 carrying four members of a family was on its way to Jammu from Kishtwar when a boulder hit their vehicle at Kuligarh area of the district at around 6:30 am today, resulting into on the spot death of mother and her daughter.
After getting information, police team rushed to the spot and shifted the bodies to District Hospital, Kishtwar.
The deceased have been identified as Anju Mahajan (38), wife of Bhupinder Mahajan, her daughter Purvi Mahajan (15). Bhupinder Mahajan, son of Paras Mahajan, a resident of Dani Ram market, District Kishtwar and his 8-year-old son escaped unhurt in the incident.
After conducting autopsy, the bodies of the deceased were handed over to family members for last rites.
A case in this regard has been registered at Kishtwar police station and investigation started.
As the news of the death of mother and her daughter spread, the civil society members, traders, transporters and bar association members staged protest at Bus Stand and infront of old DC office and also called for Kishtwar bandh.
The shopkeepers also shut down their business establishments and joined the protest. The work in all the courts also remained suspended today.
The protesting people said that the Government and the administration have failed to take steps to stop the landslide at Kuligad area, which has become a death trap for the commuters.
The people said that this is the second incident at Kuligad in which a mother and her daughter have been killed. Earlier on April 3, three pedestrians including an infant were killed at the same spot due to landslide, they added.
The students including the class mates of Purvi Mahajan, a class 11th student and executive member of student’s organization Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) also boycotted their classes and held protest at Shaheedi Chowk.
One of the friends while talking to the Excelsior said had the Government acted swiftly to take action to stop the landsliding on Batote-Kishtwar highway, Purvi could have been saved.
One of the protestors said that the residents of Kishtwar district were also paying taxes, but the Government is depriving them of basic amenities including safe road connectivity.
Later in the evening, the protesting people held a meeting with DC Kishtwar GN Balwan and demanded immediate steps to stop the landsliding on the Batote-Kishtwar highway and registration of FIR against NHIDCL and other concerned agencies for their criminal negligence.
They served two days ultimatum to make the road safe for journey, failing which they will start agitation from Monday onwards and for any untoward incident, the Government and the District Administration will be responsible.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
