Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Feb 17: The Government has ordered a departmental inquiry into yesterday’s minibus accident near Battery Chashma on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in which 14 people were killed and 28 injured.
This was stated by Minister with independent charge of Industries, Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo. He said the preliminary examination of the spot of the accident has revealed that the minibus was driving at high speed and while trying to overtake the vehicle the driver lost control of vehicle that resulted in the accident.
The Minister said examination of documents of the vehicle suggest that it was having a valid fitness certificate, insurance and road permit etc. However, an FIR No.24/2014u/s 279, 337, 304A RPC stands registered at Police Station, Ramban and investigation has started. Besides a departmental inquiry has been ordered into the matter to look into the cause of accident. The DIG Traffic, Jammu entrusted the job of enquiry.
He said that on February, 16 a minibus bearing registration No.9162/JK14A was on way from Banihal to Ramban in which 43 passengers were travelling. The ill fated minibus skidded off the road at Battery Chashma near Anokha Fall at around 1450 hours and fell into a gorge nearly 200-300 feet deep, resulting in death of five passengers on the spot and injuring 38 persons.
The district administration, Ramban, Police and Traffic Police with the assistance of Army and a local NGO, launched immediate rescue operations and shifted the dead and injured to the District Hospital, Ramban. Out of the injured, five persons succumbed to their injuries at District Hospital, Ramban. Eight critically injured persons were airlifted to GMC Hospital, Jammu where 3 of them succumbed to their injuries. Of the remaining injured, 12 were referred to Srinagar, whereas 13 were admitted in District Hospital, Ramban, said the Minister.
Kitchloo further maintained that one Ishtiyaq Ahmed son of Gh. Mohammad Ganai resident of Batmaloo, Srinagar, driver of a Tavera vehicle, while watching the scene of accident, slipped and rolled down into the gorge and also died on the spot, raising the death toll to 14.
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