Authorities said a minor among six persons were killed in a road accident at Ragi nallah on Doda-Batote highway in Doda district of Jammu on Monday evening.
According to a senior traffic department official, a private car heading towards Batote from Doda lost control and skidded off the road, resulting in the tragedy.
“The car rolled down into a 250ft gorge at Ragi Nallah, some 20 kilometres from Doda town, at around 7:15 pm. We are investigating the cause of the accident,” the official said.
Soon after the news of the car plunging into the gorge spread in the area, local volunteers joined the civil and police administration and helped in recovering six bodies from the spot of the accident.
The J&K Police identified the deceased as Rakesh Kumar Bhagat, Chander Rekha, Ajeet Kumar, Babli Devi, Smriti Devi and Mamta Devi (minor) — all residents of Ganika village, located five kilometres from Doda town.
An official said all the bodies were shifted to GMC Doda. “Their post-mortem is being carried out and the bodies will be handed over to their families after all the formalities are completed,” he said.
Earlier on February 5, two persons were killed while three others were injured in a road accident on the Srinagar—Jammu national highway near the Sether area of Bijbehara.
A Tavera vehicle collided head-on with a Santro car on the highway, resulting in on spot death of two persons. The deceased were identified as as Mohammad Syed Itoo (50) son of Mohammad Yousuf Itoo and Mohammad Ayoub Wani (45) son of Abdullah Wani—both residents of Achidora.
Police had identified the injured as Amina wife of Mohammad Syed, Parveena daughter of Abdul Rashid and Musaib Rashid—all residents of Ancidora.
The official said that the injured were shifted to Srinagar for specialised treatment and their condition is said to be critical. All the persons including the two deceased were travelling in the Santro car.
On February 9, 11 passengers were injured-two of them seriously-after a tempo they were travelling in skidded off the road in Latti area of Khawas in Jammu’s Rajouri district.
Officials said that the vehicle was on way to Kalakote from Khawas when it met the accident causing minor injuries to nine while two are said to be serious.
They identified eight among the injured as Kartar Singh, Balwant Singh, Ammna Begum, Rashpal Singh, Madan Lal, Ram Parkash, Satya Devi and Anchal Singh.
The injured have been shifted to nearby hospital even as a case under relevant sections of law has been taken up in Khawas police post.
