Three of family among 4 dead in Ramban mishap

BANIHAL: A couple and their daughter were among four persons killed and two others critically injured on Saturday after their SUV skidded off the road and plunged into a 500-ft-deep gorge on Ukhral-Senabathi link road in Ramban district.

This was second accident in the same area within a week. On Saturday last as well, eight persons have died when their vehicle on its way to Alinbass from Ukhral had skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge.

A week later, the tragedy struck another vehicle which was returning from Sharvadhar Yatra (Pogal Paristan).

A Tata Sumo bearing registration number JK14B-3832 was on its way from Senabathi to Ukhral. When the SUV reached Binjoni area, the driver lost the control and it rolled down into a deep gorge.

After getting information, police personnel and civil QRT and locals reached on spot and started rescue operation.

While Surjeet Singh (50) and his wife Koshalia Devi died on the spot, six other injured were evacuated to a nearby hospital where their daughter Neelam Devi (18) and another girl Anu Devi (13) daughter of Ashok Singh succumbed to their injuries.

Surjeet’s son Pawan Singh (27) who was driving the vehicle and Anu’s sister Priya Devi (10) sustained critical injuries in the accident and were further referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Jammu for further treatment.

All the six occupants of the vehicle were residents of Kota Pogal.

A mud house also suffered extensive damages after the SUV hit it while rolling down, but the inmates escaped unhurt, a police official said.

The dead bodies of the deceased persons have been handedover to the family members after completing the legal formalities.

“A case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigations were taken up,” police said.