SRINAGAR Seventeen people were killed when a mini bus plunged into the Chenab river in Kishtwar district on Friday, police said. Ten others were injured in the accident in Thakrie area.
This is the third major accident in Kishtwar district in the last one month.
While 13 persons were killed when their cab plunged into a gorge on August 21, seven persons were killed and 12 others injured when two vehicles were hit by boulders a day earlier.
Fridays accident occurred at Dandaran, near Thakrai, when the driver of the mini bus, which was on its way to Kishtwar from the Keshwan area, lost control of it and the vehicle plunged into the over-300-foot gorge, near the Chenab riverbed.
Local people were the first responders to the early morning accident before the police and the army were rushed to the spot to launch rescue operations.
District Development Commissioner (Kishtwar) Angrez Singh Rana told PTI the dead included three women and the driver of the ill-fated vehicle, Ashraf Hussain.
Interestingly, Hussain was fined by the traffic police for overloading on Thursday, officials said.
Rana said most of the victims died on the spot. One of the 11 critically injured persons, airlifted to Jammu for specialised treatment, was declared brought dead by doctors at the Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu.
The rickety roads in hilly Doda region coupled with official apathy and reckless drivers in overloaded vehicles have turned this stretch into a death trap for commuters.
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Meanwhile Advisor to Governor, B B Vyas said that free treatment is being provided to injured who were airlifted to Government Medical College Jammu from Kishtwar even as he expressed deep shock over the tragic mishap.
Governor Satya Pal Malik has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the tragic road accident.
In his message Governor has prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families. He has wished speedy recovery to those injured in this accident.
Governor has announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia relief for the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to each of those injured in this accident. He has directed for providing free medical treatment to the injured in government hospitals.
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