Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 18: Ten persons including driver were killed while four others seriously injured when a Tempo Traveler skidded off the road and fell into about 500 meter deep gorge, near Mahore in Reasi district today.
The tragic accident took place at around 9.30 am when the ill-fated vehicle, bearing registration No. JK-14A/8871, was on its way to Reasi from Mahore town. The vehicle was under load and total 14 passengers were on board. It left Mahore at around 9 am. As the vehicle reached Malai Morh, after covering hardly 8 km distance, the driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve as a result of which the Tempo landed into nearly 500 meter deep nallah.
Eyewitnesses said that a minor boy jumped out of the vehicle and escaped. Residents of the area rushed to the spot immediately after coming to know about the mishap. SDM Mahore Sher Singh, SDPO Mushim Ahmed and Commander of local R R unit at Sarh, also reached the spot within 15-20 minutes of the accident. Wreckage of the vehicle had scattered all around in Malai nallah. The bodies had also fallen at different locations in the gorge.
Due to steep rocky mountain, the rescue operation was very tough. However, with the help of villagers, local Army unit (RR) jawans and policemen, all of them coordinated well and managed to remove dead bodies and the injured persons from the gorge after long operation. Two injured had caught hold of trees in the gorge and managed to save their lives. The locals lauded the role of RR men in helping civil administration. The Army also provided vehicles in shifting dead and the injured as well.
Nine persons were found dead on the spot while driver of the vehicle succumbed to injuries while being shifted to Mahore hospital. He was identified as Mohd Afzal, resident of Tuksar village of Mahore sub-division. Four seriously injured were shifted to Mahore hospital in police and civil vehicles and later all the dead bodies were also removed to same hospital.
The SDM Mahore said that road was quite wider at the place of accident. It often remains little slippery there but, as per eye witnesses, driver could not negotiate curve. The vehicle was also in speed and some mechanical fault can also be the reason behind the accident.
In charge SP Reasi Mohan Lal said four injured persons were airlifted to Jammu in IAF helicopter. He said the family members of most of the deceased persons had reached there. One of the seriously injured was cloth merchant (street vendor) hailing from Punjab. The SP said he himself visited the spot and examined the site of accident. He said the vehicle was not over loaded and the road was also quite wide there.
Those killed in the accident were identified as Nain Singh, son of Baldev Singh, Bathoi, Sepoy Farnail Singh (Faji) of TA unit Palma, son of Sham Singh, resident of Saad, Abdul Rashid, son of Ghulam Haider, resident of Badhar, Guloo, son of Fazal Din, resident of Bathoi, Shabir Ahmed, son of Nazir Ahmed, resident of Shivras, Abdul Rashid ITI teacher, resident of Poonch, Chandia, son of Noor Hussain, resident of Mela Jamlan, Manzoor Ahmed, son of Mohd Din resident of Shivras, Mushtaq Ahmed, son of Gulloo resident of Mala and Mohd Afzal ( Dvr), resident of Tuksar.
Four critically injured passengers who were shifted to Govt Medical College Hospital, Jammu in Air Force helicopter from Mahore hospital were identified as Shamshad Ahmed, son of Ansaroo, resident of Sitapur (Pb), Nazir Ahmed Sarpanch, resident of Bhadher, Majid Ahmed, son of Bashir Ahmed and Ghulam Rasool, son of Mohd Ibrahim resident of Malas.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Ms Nirmal Sharma said that she took up matter of arranging helicopter for airlifting seriously injured to GMC hospital Jammu with Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Pardeep Gupta. She said with Mr Gupta’s intervention, the IAF provided helicopter for shifting four accident victims to Jammu. Their condition was said to be a little stable this evening.
The DC further said that Rs 10,000 cash assistance for the families of the each deceased and Rs 5000 to the injured was provided immediately by the District Administration out of Red Cross Fund. She said Transport Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon and Minister for Higher Education Abdul Ghani Malik who visited Mahore in the afternoon and announced Rs 25,000 cash assistance for the families of the deceased and Rs 10,000 for injured separately. She said vehicle was under load and two traffic police men including an ASI are deployed on Reasi-Mahore route. She said some mechanical failure is believed to be the reason behind the mishap. However, an inquiry would be initiated in this regard.
Both the ministers Mr Malik and Akhoon later met the families of the deceased persons and expressed their grief and sorrow with the bereaved families. They assured all possible help to them from the administration. The police after performing legal formalities handed over the bodies to the family members.
Meanwhile, Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have expressed grief over the loss of lives in road accident in Mahore area today.
In their condolence messages, both of them have conveyed their sympathy to the bereaved families and prayed for the peace to the departed souls. The Chief Minister directed the Divisional Commissioner Jammu and the Health department staff to provide all required Medical facilities to the injured.
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