Srinagar, Sep 7: Two persons died and 23 others were injured in a road accident when a mini-bus skidded off the road in Chadoora area of district Budgam Friday, police said.
Police identified the dead as Ghulam Muhammad Najar (55) and Ghulam Hassan Malik (45), both resident of Wajam, Budgam.
Giving details, Station House Officer (SHO) Chadoora, Manzoor Ahmad, told Greater Kashmir that a Tata 407 passenger vehicle bearing registration number JK01F/4924 turned turtle near Hushroo village of Chadoora, resulting in injuries to 25 passengers. The bus, he said, was on way to Magam via Panzla.
“The mini-bus skidded off the road and fell into a gorge,” the SHO said and added that Ghulam Muhammad Najar died minutes after the accident. The police officer said that there were critical injuries to five others. “One among them later died in hospital,” he said.
The SHO said that 23 injured are admitted in different hospitals of Srinagar. He said that they have registered a case. “Initial investigations reveal that the driver of the bus lost control over the vehicle and it skidded off,” he said.
Soon after the accident, six injured were brought to SMHS Hospital. “One among them died and two with head injury were shifted to SKIMS,” Medical Superintendent SMHS Hospital, Dr Nazir Choudhary told Greater Kashmir. “Two are admitted here and they have multiple injuries, but are stable,” he added.
The officials at SKIMS told Greater Kashmir that three persons were brought to the institute after the accident. “They are stable,” they said.
Head of department Bone & Joint Hospital, Dr Manzoor Ahmad Halwai, told Greater Kashmir that nine injured were brought to the hospital. “Four among them have major fractures. They are stable and are under observation,” he said and added that three were discharged after treatment and one was referred to SMHS Hospital.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has expressed shock and pain over the tragic road accident.
While expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, Mehbooba has said the increasing frequency of road accidents in the state depicts dismal performance of the administration. She said the roads in almost all districts are in shambles and the authorities are hardly moved by the plight of people caused by these dilapidated roads.
The PDP president asked the Government not to sleep over the long pending public demands particularly with regard to the dilapidated condition of roads across Kashmir.
Senior party leader and former chairman Legislative Council, Ghulam Nabi Hanjura, and party’s youth General Secretary, Nazir Ahmad Yatoo, have extended condolences to the bereaved families of the two dead passengers.
The two leaders have urged the Government to grant relief in favor of the families of two dead passengers and bear all the medical expenses of passengers who sustained injuries in the tragic road accident.
Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather, has expressed his grief and sorrow over the accident.
Rather, who is on a two-day official visit to Delhi, contacted the hospital authorities and asked them to provide adequate medical facilities to injured passengers.
He has also convened his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members of those who were killed in the accident and prayed for eternal peace to their souls.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 7 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 7 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 8 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST