Ramban, May 30: Thirteen persons including three children and six women were killed early Wednesday morning when the Tata Sumo they were traveling in fell into a gorge near Digdool area of Ramban district on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway.
The Sumo had left Jammu for Srinagar late last night. “It is being deemed that when the vehicle reached near Bisleri Nallah, nine kilometers from district headquarters Ramban, it skidded off the road and plunged into around 1000 meters deep gorge,” police sources said.
After receiving information about the accident, rescue teams of police QRT of Ramban and volunteers of Red Cross Society rushed to the spot and started rescue operation. The scene at the accident site was horrible as the body parts of dead persons were scattered around.
“Due to hilly terrain the rescue teams faced a tough time to retrieve the bodies. After long the bodies were retrieved by the rescue teams and shifted to mortuary of district hospital Ramban,” they added.
Twelve of the deceased persons belong to a single family and have been identified as Mohan Lal son of Khana Ram, his wife Kalu Devi, their two sons Mitu and Vijay and daughter Ashu Devi, Manga Ram, Doru Devi wife of Khera Ram his two daughters Payal and Sapna, Navi son of Babu Ram, Nandni daughter of Vijay, all residents of Hoshiyarpur Punjab, they said.
The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Mustafa Malik son of Abdul Majid Malik resident of Shergarhi Srinagar.
In a message, the Governor conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also expressed deep grief over the loss of human lives in the accident.
The Chief Minister in a condolence message conveyed sympathy to the bereaved families.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 30 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 30 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 May 2012 00:00:00 IST