Two dead, 12 injured as vehicle falls in gorge in J&K’s Reasi

JAMMU: Two persons, including a 17-year-old boy, died while at least 12 others were injured after the vehicle ferrying a wedding party fell into a gorge in a remote area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district early Monday.

Reasi deputy commissioner Vishesh Pal Mahajan said the passengers were returning from a wedding in Balmatkote to their native village, Badar, when the accident took place.

“The Eeco van skidded off the road after the driver lost control of the vehicle, which then plunged into a gorge near Dhamini Chassana area in Reasi around 6am,” said a cop.

“A rescue operation was launched immediately. One passenger, identified as Mohammad Ashraf (25), was found dead on the spot while another, Mohammad Tahir (17), succumbed on the way to the hospital. Both deceased were residents of Mahore, Reasi,” the officer said.

Those wounded were admitted to Reasi district hospital from where four critically injured were shifted to GMC Rajouri for specialised treatment, officials said. From GMC Rajouri, two children were further sent to Jammu for advanced treatment, Deputy Commissioner Mahajan said.

Police registered a case and launched a probe.