Mountainous Kishtwar registers first deadly accident of 2025
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU/KISHTWAR, Jan 5: Four persons travelling in a vehicle have lost their lives and two others onboard the same vehicle were missing, till last reports, when the ill fated vehicle carrying them skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near a rivulet in the mountainous Kishtwar district this morning, registering the first tragic accident of this year on the notorious roads of erstwhile Doda district.
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Sources informed that the accident took place at 5.30 am with the vehicle of Mahindra Bolero Camper make bearing registration number JK-17-A-8709 plunging into a deep gorge but some unconfirmed reports claimed that the vehicle fell late last night and early in the morning some locals saw it and informed the Police.
The vehicle was carrying six people and was on way from Gulabgarh to Massu when the mishap took place near Sanyas after it fell into a deep gorge near Bhot Nallah.
After getting information about the accident, cops from the nearest Police Station rushed to the spot and started rescue operation with the help of local volunteers.
They shifted all the four bodies retrieved from the accident site to Sub District Hospital Atholi, Padder for post-mortem and other legal formalities.
The deceased persons were identified as Raj Kumar, 22, son of Panna Lal; Mukash Kumar, 29, son of Man Singh; Haqiqat Singh, 28, son of Sewa Ram and Satish Kumar, 26, son of Nath Ram-all residents of Garh, Padder.
Two missing persons in the accident were identified as Ashok Kumar (driver of the vehicle) and Nav Rattan (vehicle owner).
Some locals informed that the vehicle was attached at Kawar Hydro Electric Project and the persons on board were engaged in construction work there.
When contacted, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kishtwar, Javed Iqbal Mir informed that four people were killed on the spot and two others were missing in the accident.
About reasons behind the accident, he said: “Nothing can be said at this moment but we have registered an FIR and started investigations to find out reasons responsible for the accident.”
The SSP said that first of all they will get the mechanical test of the vehicle done to check if break fail was the reason behind the accident.
“During on-spot visit of the accident site, we found that there was no crash-barrier on that road,” he maintained adding: “As the vehicle was moving in late night hours, we will also check if there was some human error behind the accident, like the driver might have fallen asleep.”
SSP Mir further said that the road where accident took place was also very narrow.
On missing persons, the district Police chief informed that State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team was on job but due to darkness they have closed the search operation by evening and it will now resume in the morning tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Union MoS PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh has expressed shock over the loss of lives in the accident.
On social media platform X (former Twitter), he posted: “Saddened to learn that 4 of the passengers travelling in the vehicle have been found dead on the spot. Two other persons, including the driver, are not traced as yet. My sincere condolences to the bereaved families.”
Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, has also expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in the accident near Sanyas area in Kishtwar.
In a condolence message, he said: “Pained by the loss of lives due to the tragic road accident in Kishtwar. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones.”
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has expressed profound grief and sorrow over the tragic death of four individuals in an accident at Sanyas, Paddar area of Kishtwar district. Terming the incident as a great loss of precious human lives, the Chief Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He prayed for strength and fortitude for them during this hour of immense grief.
The Chief Minister assured that his office is in constant touch with the district administration, which is making all possible efforts to trace the two individuals still missing following the accident.
On getting information about the accident, the local MLA who is also Leader of Opposition from BJP, Sunil Sharma and Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Rajesh Shawan reached the spot and personally monitored the rescue operation.
Later, Sunil Sharma also met the bereaved families at their home in village Garh and expressed condolences.
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