Srinagar, Sep 28: Five people, including a nine-month-old infant, were killed while seven others were injured after a Scorpio vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a river in Tangdhar area in north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Monday.
Officials said the accident occurred close to the Line of Control when the Scorpio was travelling from Teetwal towards Semari and rolled down the road into Kishanganga River.
The deceased were identified as Mohammad Idrees, 30, Hamza, nine months, Sayeeda Begum, 28, Shabir Ahmad, 50, all residents of Semari, and Raja Arshad, 30, a resident of Teetwal.
The driver and six other passengers sustained injuries in the accident. The injured were shifted to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Tangdhar, from where five of them were referred to advanced treatment.
A police official said a case under Sections 281 and 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered and investigation has been taken up.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident.
In a post on X, the LG said he was "deeply pained" by the loss of lives in the accident and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured and directed the district administration to ensure the best possible treatment for them.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed deep grief over the accident, describing it as a tragic incident in the Karnah-Tangdhar area.
The Chief Minister conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls and strength to the families to bear the loss.
Omar directed the district administration and medical authorities to provide the injured with the best possible treatment and all necessary medical care. He also asked the authorities to ensure all possible assistance to the affected families.