EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, May 27: A week after 26 people lost lives and 120 others got injuries on the killer J&K roads, 15 persons, including four Srinagar-bound tourists and a couple, were today killed in three incidents on the 250-km Samba-Ramban stretch of the national highway.
While the May 21 incidents were caused due to overloading, today's mishaps were the glaring example of reckless driving without any regard for the safety of those travelling in the ill-fated passenger vehicles, or for other motorists' lives.
Police sources said a Tata Sumo (JK01L/5283), carrying tourists and locals, left Jammu late last night for Srinagar. It crossed Udhampur at about 1 am, but when its driver was negotiating Monkey Morh near Battery Chashma in Ramban at about 4.30 am, it skidded off the road and plunged into about 1 km deep gorge. There were seven persons in it, including the driver. Six of them, including two brothers, died instantly, while the one, who survived, was struggling for his life in the Ramban district hospital. His identity was yet to be known.
The dead were identified as Madan Masih, son of Gulzar Masih, Sarban Masih, son of Khushia Masih, his brother Manga Masih, all residents of Dhianpur in Gurdaspur, Punjab, Gulzar Singh, son of Mohan Singh of Batala, Punjab, Fayaz Ahmad, son of Mohammad Sultan of Kupwara and driver Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, son of Ali Mohammad Bhat of Kanipora, Budgam.
Madan, Sarban, Manga and Gulzar were going to Srinagar to enjoy their holidays.
Another incident occured at Chanderkote, Ramban, at about 6.20 am when a rashly driven truck skidded off the road and fell into a 500 mt deep gorge, resulting in the death of three persons, including driver Rakesh Kumar (26), son of Madan Lal, and conductor Anil Kumar (23), son of Prem Nath.
While Rakesh hailed from Chowki Choura, Akhnoor, Anil was resident of Maitka in Kalakote, Rajouri. Identity of the third dead person was yet to be known.
Sources said the tragedy struck when the driver could not negotiate a sharp curve, known as Kunfar Morh. Meanwhile, a carelessly driven Tata Sumo (MH23H/1133) hit a motorcycle at Sapwal near Samba at about 8.10 am, resulting in the instant death of the motorcyclist and his wife, who was sitting on the pillion seat.
The dead were identified as ex-army Captain Trilochan Singh of Chak Ramchand, Samba, and Surjit Kour. Sapwal police post incharge, Sub-Inspector (SI) Inderpal Singh was among those who reached the spot soon after the mishap.
The SI shifted the bodies of Trilochan and Surjit to the Samba district hospital mortuary where post-mortem was conducted on them.Sources said the bodies were taken to Chak Ramchand by the SI in his official Gypsy.
The Sumo driver was arrested and booked under relevant sections of law. He was identified as Rajesh Ganpat Satputty, son of Ganpat Maroty Satputty of Chanderpur, Maharashtra.Sources said four persons, who had hired the Sumo, were on their way from Maharashtra to Katra to have darshans of the goddess Vaishno Devi in the Trikuta Hills. No Sumo occupant was injured, the sources added.Another Tata Sumo met with an accident near Chandimarh in Surankote of Poonch at above 5.30Pm resulting I the death of all the four persons , including driver, who wwas traveling in it. Sources said the mishap took place when recklessly driven sumo went out of the control of driver and fell into a 200 -ft deep nallah.The driver and the other three persons who were traveling in it were killed on the spot.
The dead were identified as MOhd. Ikhlaq, Son of Mohd annwar, Ashiq Hussain , Son of Nek Mohammad, both residents of Chandimarh , Mohd Azam Son of Mohd Din of Sailan and his brother Lal Hussain .
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