Poonch, Sept 14 (GNS): At least nine people were killed and 27 others were injured, 11 of them seriously, when an overloaded minibus they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a very deep gorge in Poonch district on Thursday.
Among those killed include two boys, one of them 5 and other 14 years old, besides three women, two of them teenagers.
Official sources told GNS that the accident occurred near Barari Ballah Sawjian when the driver of the bus (JK12-1419) apparently lost control over it. The Bus skidded off the road and rolled several hundred meters into the gorge, they said. Soon after the accident, locals, police and army rushed to the spot and launched a massive rescue operation. Nine people died on the spot or on the way to hospital, a police official told GNS. At least 27 people were injured and were removed to nearby hospital, the official said. Condition of eleven of them is stated to be critical and they have been shifted to District Hospital Poonch, the official added.
The deceased have been identified as Maroof Ahmad (14), Bashir Ahmad (40), Rozsia Akhtar (18), Zarina Begum (40), Mohammad Hassan (65), Nazima Akhtar (20), Imran Ahmad (5), Abdul Karim (70) and Abdul Qayoom (40), all locals.
After the incident, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the next of kin of those killed in a minibus accident in Poonch.
As reported by GNS already, at least nine people, three of the women and two young boys, were killed while at least 27 others were injured in the accident near Barari Ballah Sawjian. The death toll may rise given the fact that at least 11 injured are stated to be critical.
“Saddened by loss of lives due to a road accident in Sawjian, Poonch. Condolences to bereaved families,” Sinha, who reviewed development scenario in Poonach only yesterday, said in a tweet. “May the injured recover soon,” he said, adding, “Rs. 5 lakh would be given to the next of kin of deceased. Directed Police and Civil authorities to provide best possible treatment to the injured.” (GNS)
