Seven people including a woman and a minor girl were killed and 17 others injured, some of them critically, after an overloaded passenger vehicle skidded off a hilly road and fell into a deep gorge in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.
Officials said the accident took place on the Doda-Bharth road near Ponda in Doda when the driver of a tempo traveller lost control while negotiating a blind curve around 9 am.
24 people were injured in the accident and were shifted to the nearby hospital.
The doctors at Government Medical College Hospital Doda declared Mohammad Ashraf (35), Mangta Wani (51), Atta Mohamed (33), Talib Hussain (35), and Rafeeqa Begum (60) as brought dead while critically injured five-year-old Uzma Jan and Shakur Din (30) succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Jammu, the officials said.
Seventeen persons are undergoing treatment in the GMC Hospital Doda and the condition of some of them was stated to be critical.
Locals rushed to the scene soon after the vehicle fell into the gorge and were later joined by police and other security agencies' personnel.
"The vehicle, which was on the way to Doda, was overloaded and a cognizance has been taken," Deputy Commissioner, Doda, Harvinder Singh told reporters.
J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha condoled the loss of lives in the tragic accident.
In a condolence message, the Lt Governor has said, "Pained by the loss of lives due to the tragic road accident in Doda. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. Praying for a speedy recovery of the injured."
In a post on X, the office of the Chief Minister said "...the administration has been directed to ensure immediate medical assistance and support to all affected." The Chief Minister extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prays for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to Deputy Commissioner Doda Harvinder Singh upon receiving the information about the accident.
"All possible help and medical aid being provided. DC is personally supervising the entire exercise and giving me regular updates. Any further assistance, as required, will also be provided," Mr. Singh said in a post on X. He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.