Thirteen passengers including two from Kishtwar died after a vehicle bearing registration no. JK17 3594 carrying Machail yatra pilgrims met with an accident in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. This was the second accident in the area in less than 24 hours.
Seven people had died after a landslide hit a passenger vehicle Monday morning.
The accident took place near Nassu village on Kishtwar-Paddar-Ghulabghar road, 20 kms from Kishtwar.
Reports said that the vehicle rolled down about 300 meter into Chenab river near Kwar Dool area, leaving 13 passengers dead including a minor girl. The car was carrying 13 passengers.
The local people, Red Cross team, Police and Army rushed to the spot and recovered bodies from the deep gorge.
The deceased have been identified as Dev Raj, Kewal Singh, Sanam, Sushma Devi, Bishma Devi, Sandesha Devi, Badri Nath, Safeda Devi, Danish, Abu Allah, Bhadur Singh, Pushpa Devi and Jyoti Devi.
According to police officials, a passenger cab carrying the pilgrims skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge around 7:30 am.
Governor N N Vohra has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident. Conveying his sincere sympathy to the next of kin of the deceased passengers he has wished speedy recovery to those injured in the accident. Governor has issued directions to the Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar to ensure immediate medical treatment to the injured.
Governor, who has repeatedly expressed concern over recurring road accidents, has today directed Divisional Commissioners Kashmir and Jammu to ensure that the Deputy Commissioners hold immediate meetings of the District Road Safety Committees and he shall chair a meeting this Saturday to review causes of recurring fatal accidents.