Jammu and Kashmir: Five dead, 17 injured as passenger vehicle falls into gorge in Doda

People stand near an overturned vehicle after an accident, in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir. Pic/PTI

Five persons, including a woman, have been killed, and 17 people are reportedly injured when an overloaded passenger vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge. The incident happened around the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said.

As reported by news agency PTI, the accident took place on Doda-Bharth road near Ponda, which is around 30 km from Doda town. It has been reported that the driver of the tempo traveller lost control while negotiating a blind curve around 9 am.

Soon after the incident at Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, Mohammad Ashraf (35), Mangta Wani (51), Atta Mohamed (33), Talib Hussain (35), and Rafeeqa Begum (60) were brought to the Government Medical College Hospital, Doda, where they were declared dead.

Furthermore, the reports also informed that seventeen injured persons had been shifted to hospital by rescuers, and the condition of some of them was stated to be critical, the officials said. The official addressing the incident also said that one of the persons who has been critically injured, who is five years old, has been referred to Jammu for specialised treatment.

Locals who were present near the accident spot said that, as soon as they saw the vehicle rolling down the valley, they rushed to the scene. However, just after a few minutes, state police and other security agency personnel were also present on the spot.

J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Democratic Progressive Azad Party president Ghulam Nabi Azad have condoled the loss of lives in the tragic accident, as reported by news agency PTI.

In a condolence message, the Lt. Governor has said, "Pained by the loss of lives due to the tragic road accident in Doda. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. Praying for a speedy recovery of the injured," as cited by news agency PTI.

Union minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to deputy commissioner Doda, Harvinder Singh on receiving the information about the accident.

Minister Jitendra Singh, expressing his condolences to the family of the deceased on social media platform X, said, "all possible help and medical aid is being provided. DC is personally supervising the entire exercise and giving me regular updates. Any further assistance, as required, will also be provided."

(With PTI Inputs)