Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal, Mar 24 : At least two female tourists were killed while 25 others including a driver and a conductor were injured in a road accident in Ganderbal district on Thursday.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a tempo bearing registration number JK01N-9382 skidded off the road on Srinagar-Leh highway near Hari Ganiwan area of Ganderbal district.
He said that in the incident, 27 persons received injuries, who were shifted to hospital for treatment, adding that two among the injured—both females died while 25 others were injured.
The injured were shifted to Trauma hospital Kangan wherefrom they were referred to SKIMS Soura, Bone and Joint and SMHS hospitals in Srinagar where they are undergoing treatment.
The deceased belong to West Bengal, officials said, adding that 25 injured persons include 23 tourists from West Bengal and two from Srinagar—driver and a conductor.
The injured have been identified as Urmila, wife of Kongal, Tapeiv Dey, wife of Shankar Dey, Seep Shankar Dey, son of Tapaiv Dey, Sunil Kondra, son of Late Soval Kondra, Samir Kumar, son of Late Sudhir Kumar, Banashree Kumar, wife of Sunil Kumar, Rupali Koul, wife of Bonka Koul, Shifali Basu, wife of Uday Chankar, Alok Mukherjee, son of Late Deba, Jarna Das, wife of Propholo Kumar, Madan Mandal, son of Ganpati Mandal, Shamili Gosh, wife of Lakhal Chandra, Gayan Mayali Som, daughter of Probhot Som, Yonobiajri Hazra, son of Late Shanti Ram Hazra, Monika Karmokar, wife of Samal Karmokar, Shamol Karmokar, son of Piru Karmokar, Piru Bora, son of Late Konobora, Saroti Bora, wife of Piru Bora, Subroto Karmokar, son of Saimul, Banku Koul, son of Gouri Shankar, Rekha Paul, wife of Late Gopinath Paul, Rono Jeet, son of Mahadeep and Showki Sana Dalali—all from West Bengal.
The other two injured have been identified as Shahid Ahmad, son of Muhammad Sultan of Rainawari (Driver) and Bashir Ahmad, son of Muhammad Jamal Dar of Dargah from Srinagar.
Meanwhile, police has taken cognizance of the incident and started investigation
Moreover, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and also prayed for speedy recovery to the injured persons.
Sinha also directed the district administration to provide all necessary assistance to the injured.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic and unfortunate road accident in Ganderbal in which two tourists have lost their lives. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families, prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. Directed district admin to provide all necessary assistance to injured,” Office of LG J&K tweeted.
National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah also expressed deep anguish over the fatal accident.
Sharing in grief of the bereaved, they prayed for peace to the departed souls. They also impressed upon the divisional administration to provide the best of medical treatment to all the injured.
Meanwhile, Party GS Ali Muhammad Sagar, senior leader Mian Altaf, Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq also expressed sympathies and condolences with victim families. They also prayed for speedy recovery of all the injured.
Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari expressed grief over the road accident.
In a condolence message issued to the press, the party president expressed unison with the bereaved families and prayed for eternal repose to the deceased.He also demanded special treatment to the several others who got injured in the horrendous accident.
He also urged the administration to look after the construction and maintenance on the major arterials that are mostly taken up by the tourists to commute in and across the valley.
“I am extremely saddened over the demise of two tourists who died in a road accident in Hari Ganiwan area of district Ganderbal. My heartfelt sympathies are with the family members of the deceased and I would pray for strength to bear this inconsolable loss. The injured persons should be given special treatment on an urgent basis. The need of the hour calls for immediate steps to avoid such accidents from recurring, it is expected that the concerned departments will depute a team to ascertain the causes behind the tragedy,” he said.
“Deeply pained by the tragic road accident that took place in Ganderbal resulting in the death of two tourists. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured,” Bukhari said—(KNO)
