Vehicle falls into J&K gorge, 8 die

SRINAGAR: Eight members of a family, including a cop and five children, were killed Saturday when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in J&K’s Anantnag.

The relatives were travelling from Kishtwar to Marwah when the driver of their SUV lost control, causing it roll down the road and plunge into the gorge in Daksum area of Anantnag on the Sinthan-Kokernag route, Kokernag SDM Suheel Ahmad said.

The dead included two women. The children were aged between six and 16, officials said. Some reports indicated the vehicle was a Tata Sumo and was badly damaged.

J&K lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the accident. “My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family members during this hour of grief. I have issued instructions to the district administration to provide all necessary assistance to the affected families,” Sinha said.

Former CMs Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Ghulam Nabi Azad and other leaders also voiced grief at the tragedy.