Ramban: Three persons died and 11 others were injured, most of them critically, when an overloaded vehicle in which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge at Digdol near Ramban town along Jammu Srinagar National Highway on Saturday.
Officials said that a TaTa Sumo vehicle, bearing registration JK03A-6391, was on its way to Ramban from Neel when it rolled down a 500-deep gorge along Bisleri Nallah at Digdol.
All the injured passengers were rushed to District Hospital Ramban. Out of them, nine critically injured were referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu.
Police said that one person, identified as Gulzar, had died on spot whereas another person identified as Sameer succumbed to his injuries in the ambulance, while being shifted to the District Hospital. Yet another accident victim Ashu succumbed to his injuries in the Government Medical College Hospital Jammu late this evening.
Police said the deceased passengers Gulzar (19), Sameer (24) and Ashu (35) were the residents of Uttar Pradesh.
Police identified the injured as Manzoor Ahmed, 28, son of Bashir Ahmed, Khaleda Begum, 35, wife of Fayaz Ahmed, her two minor daughters Ara Bano, 4 and Jameela, 7, all residents of Neel of district Ramban, Arif (22) ,Usman (19), Shoaib Khan (18) , Sohil Khan, Nasir Khan (19), Iqra (2), Akya (8), all residents of Uttar Pradesh.
The road accidents on Jammu Srinagar National Highway have registered an increase in the last few weeks. It is the third accident within a span of 10 days.
The complete stretch was blacktopped by the National Highway Authority of India.
Police registered a case under relevant sections of the IPC at Police Station Ramban and started investigation.
Meanwhile the district administration also ordered an enquiry which would be conducted by ADC Ramban. He has been asked to submit a detailed report within one week.