Ramban, May 28: At least five persons, including three women, were killed when a mini-bus, they were traveling in, skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Chapnari area of Banihal on Monday morning.
Police said that the ill-fated vehicle (JK06-0758) was on its way from Chapnari to Banihal when it met with the mishap.
Panic gripped the entire Banihal tehsil after the reports of the mishap spread in the area. People in large numbers rushed to the accident spot and evacuated the bodies from the Nallah.
The deceased persons were identified as Jiven Singh S/O Chor Singh R/O Chapnari Banihal, Hajra Begaum W/O Feroz  Din R/O Bankot Banihal, Rashma  Begum W/o Basher Gujar R/o Amkot Banihal, Mushtaq Ahmed S/o Gulam Rasool R/o Chapnari Banihal and Sharda Devi W/o Late Shankar Singh R/o Chapnari Banihal.
Driver of the vehicle, Muhammad Sharief S/o Muhammad Shafi R/o Chapnari, Banihal was critically injured and was referred to SKIMS Srinagar.
Meanwhile, several political leaders have expressed grief and shock over the loss of life in the mishap. NC leader Sajad Shaheen demanded exgratia relief in favor of relatives of the deceased persons.
In a condolence message, PDP leader Advocate Bahar Ahmed Rounyal said that government has failed to curb the menace of road mishaps in the region.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 May 2012 00:00:00 IST