Lagatar24 Desk
Anantnag: In a devastating incident on the Simthan-Kokernag Road near Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, eight people, including five children, lost their lives when the vehicle they were traveling in plunged into a gorge. The tragic accident occurred when the driver lost control of the car, which was en route from Madwah Kishtwar.
This incident follows closely on the heels of two separate road accidents in the Union Territory’s Rajouri and Reasi districts, resulting in the deaths of six individuals. On July 21, a taxi carrying eight passengers from Thandikassi to Lam fell off a hilly road near Chalan village in Rajouri, causing multiple fatalities, as reported by PTI.
Additionally, on July 13, another tragic accident occurred in Doda district, where a bus skidded off the road and fell into a 200-feet-deep gorge, killing two people and injuring 25 others. Doda Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh reported that four individuals were critically injured, and five others were referred to the hospital for further treatment.
In yet another unfortunate incident in Reasi district, a Mahindra Bolero car carrying four family members rolled down a 200-feet gorge in Bidda village. The accident resulted in the instant deaths of Guddi Devi and her daughter Shobha, while Devi’s son, Mukesh Singh, who was driving the vehicle, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Mukesh Singh’s minor daughter was rescued and is currently receiving treatment.
The region has witnessed a series of tragic accidents recently, with another occurring in Himachal Pradesh. On July 24, two people were killed and three others injured when their car fell into a 200-meter-deep gorge in the Rohru Sub-Division of Shimla. The victims were traveling from Rohru to Shimla when the driver lost control, leading to the fatal crash.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures in these hilly regions to prevent such tragedies and ensure the safety of travelers.