Kishtwar : In a deadly road accident five members of a family, including two women, were killed on Wednesday when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said.
The accident happened when the family was carrying the body of a baby from Jammu to their Bahadat village in Drabshalla for last rites, he said.
Near Paani Nallah, the driver of the private car (JK07/2745) lost control over the wheels, the official said.
The deceased were identified as Pawan Kumar (32), his wife Rekha Devi (26), Rita Devi (30), Kewal Krishan (37) and P Kumar (30).
Senior politician Syed Altaf Bukhari expressed grief over the loss of lives and said the repeated road accidents in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Udhampur districts must be a grave concern for the JK administration.
“It is a situation which demands immediate measures and attention of all of us, especially the officers of transport, traffic police, National Highway Authorities and Border Roads Organization to put forward their departmental specific assignment of the causes responsible for causing accidents in these hilly districts,” he said and urged upon the government to improve road conditions across Jammu and Kashmir.
“My heart goes out for the families of village Bahadat Tesil Drabshalla who have lost their near and dear ones including a minor baby in this tragic accident. I appeal the J&K government led by the Lieutenant Governor to extend all possible help including grant of ext gratia relief to the bereaved families,” Bukhari demanded.
He urged the governor led administration to constitute more special checking squads especially in mountainous regions of the State to stop the increasing road accidents that lead to loss of precious lives off and on.
The former finance minister extended heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in the tragic accident. “I pray for the eternal peace to the departed souls and endurance for their families to bear this irreparable loss,” Bukhari said in his condolence message. (KNT)
