10 dead, 15 injured as tempo falls into gorge in J-K

A vehicle carrying passengers today skidded off and rolled down into a 200-feet deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district killing 10 people and injuring 15 others, police said today.
The tempo, which was on its way to Buddan to Mahore, fell into the gorge at Shishi Nallah area of the said district, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Tahi Sajad Bhat told PTI.
He said 10 people were killed and 15 others injured in the accident.
A rescue operation was launched earlier and the injured were rushed to a hospital, Bhat said.
While eight people died on the spot, two succumbed to their injuries on their way to the hospital, he said.

Some of the victims have been identified as Javed Ahmed (26), Wazira Begum (35), Charan Singh (22), Liquat Ali (20), Mohd Ashraf (19), Mohd Asif (14) and Jamat Ali and Mubbashar Ahmed (5).

Meanwhile, Governor N N Vohra has expressed grief over the tragic loss of lives in the accident.
In a message, he has prayed for peace to the departed souls and wished the bereaved families the strength to bear this sad loss.
He has wished speedy recovery to those injured in this accident.
The Governor expressed concern over recurring road accidents and reiterated that every concerned agency should be held accountable for strictly enforcing regulations regarding the age and worthiness of the passenger carrying vehicles, condemnation of unfit vehicles, overloading, over-speeding, fitness and past record of drivers to ply passenger vehicles on notified hill roads, and punitive summary fines to be paid by the offenders.

He noted that no unqualified and unlicensed person must be allowed to drive any personal, transport or commercial vehicle.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh also expressed grief over the tragic road accident.