13 killed as van falls into gorge in J&K

On Monday, 7 people, including a cop, were killed and 12 others injured after two vehicles were hit by a landslide

JAMMU: At least 13 persons, including a five-year-old girl, were killed on Tuesday when a van carrying pilgrims plunged into a gorge in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. This is the second major accident in Kishtwar district in the past 24 hours.

On Monday, seven people, including a policeman, were killed and 12 others injured after two vehicles were hit by a landslide in the district.

Kishtwar SSP Rajinder Gupta said, “There are no survivors. All 13 people, including the driver, died in the accident that occurred around 7.45 am. The pilgrims were returning from Machail Mata Yatra in Padder area.”

The dead are Abdul Ala, Danish,

THE PILGRIMS WERE RETURNING FROM MACHAIL MATA YATRA IN PADDER AREA WHEN THE MISHAP TOOK PLACE

both residents of Banderna in Kishtwar; Badri Nath, his wife Safedu Devi; Kewal Singh, his wife Sushma Devi, daughters Sonam and Jyoti; Dev Raj, his wife Sandesh Devi, sister Bishma Devi; Bhadar Singh and his wife Pushpa Devi —all residents of Doda.

“The vehicle was on its way to Kishtwar from Gulabgarh. The accident took place at Noos Khwar, nearly 25 km from Padder. The driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve and the vehicle veered off the road,” the SSP added. While 11 victims belonged to Doda, the remaining two hailed from Kishtwar.

Soon after the accident, police personnel and soldiers besides locals rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations.

The SSP said the little girl succumbed to her injuries while being evacuated to the government medical college and hospital in Jammu.

A transport official attributed the accident to speeding. “Against the seating capacity of eight, the van was carrying 12 passengers and the vehicle was being driven rashly,” he said.

Governor NN Vohra, National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah and his son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah have expressed grief over the tragedy.