3 govt officials, driver die in Doda road accident

JAMMU : Three government officials and the driver was killed after their Bolero car skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge by the Chenab river in Doda district on Monday morning, officials said. The dead were from the public works department (R&B). The deceased have been identified as executive engineer Mohammad Rafiq of Poonch, assistant executive engineer Kamal Kishore Sharma of Udhampur and their driver Mohammad Hafiz of Doda. Injured superintending engineer Suresh Kumar, who was evacuated to GMC-Jammu, died during treatment.

“Critically injured Suresh Kumar, who was evacuated to GMC-Jammu, succumbed to his injuries during treatment,” said Dr Narinder Bhatial, medical superintendent of the GMC and hospital Jammu.

Doda SSP Abdul Qayoom said, “Prima facie their car skidded off the road and plunged into the deep gorge. The accident happened in the Trungal of Assar area. The car rolled down around 200 feet into the gorge. It was raining in the area, and the weather was foggy.”

LG Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the accident. “Pained by the loss of lives due to an accident in Doda. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families... Directed the district administration to provide all possible assistance,” Sinha wrote on Twitter.