Three labourers died and another one was grievously injured when they slipped from a hillock during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday in Pir Panchal range. They were coming from Halsidar-Anantnag to Hinjhal-Banihal to reach their native place.
Sources said that among the deceased is a 12th classstudent. The deceased were in touch with their families till midnight beforethey slipped.
Sources said the deceased who were part of a group membergroup had started their journey from Jawahar Tunnel to Kapran. “Due to thelockdown announced by the government of India in the wake of coronavirusspread, they were not allowed to cross the Jawahar Tunnel,” sources said.
In a bid to reach their native village Hinjhal, they tookthe route from the hillside during the night.
“As it was raining heavily in the area, four persons slippedfrom the hillock and fell into a deep gorge sustaining grievous injuries. Threeamong them died during the night while one seriously injured was rescued onWednesday morning by the locals,” sources said.
The deceased have been identified as Gulam Mohiudeen Daraboo(34 ) son of Abdul Rehman Daraboo ,Reyaz Ahmed Daraboo 22 son of MohammadRamzan Daraboo and Zubir Ahmed (17) son of Mohammad Shafi Daraboo, allresidents of Hinjal Banihal district Ramban. The injured, Parvaiz Ahmed (20 )son of Abdul Majed Daraboo was shifted to Sub District Hospital (SDH) Banihalwhere he is fighting battle for his life.
Officials said that when another three labourers travellingon the same route safely reached their homes in Banihal village, the familymembers of the deceased labourers became alert and informed the police. “Soon,a search operation by police, volunteers from Banihal and army was launched anddead bodies were recovered on Wednesday afternoon,” the official said.
Abdul Majeed, father of injured labourer, Parvaiz Ahmad,said all the seven labours were working in Srinagar and were “denied entry fromJawahar Tunnel twice and were abused, which forced them to take alternativeroute through the snow-clad Kapran-Banihal hillock to reach home”.
Alyas Wani, a volunteer from Banihal alleged that theauthorities’ at Qazigund and JT do not “behave properly with the strandedpassengers”. He demanded relief for theshelter less stranded people.
He alleged that several covid19 emergency passes issued bySDM Banihal for patients to reach Kashmir hospitals have also been rejected bySouth Kashmir police at Jawahar Tunnel in the past days of lockdown.
Aakil Ahmed, another volunteer, said the people aresuffering due to “unplanned lockdown even Cancer patients are stranded atRailway station Banihal.”
He said there should be comprehensive planning to servestranded passengers at Railway station Banihal, Ramban and across JT”.
SSP Ramban, Hasseb ur Rehman, said that the bodies wereshifted to Sub District Hospital Banihal for post-mortem and other legalformalities.