8 killed, seven hurt in Uri road accident

Our Correspondent

Srinagar, January 31

A major tragedy struck the border tehsil Uri in Baramulla district on Wednesday as an overloaded Sumo plunged into a deep gorge, around 300 feet down leading to death of eight persons and leaving sever others wounded, officials said.

The Sumo, carrying 15 people, was on way to Boniayar Uri from Bujithalan village when it skidded off a slippery road, tumbling into a gorge. Initial videos coming from the area showed local residents pulling out passengers and taking bodies up to the road. One woman was seen wailing and asking for ambulance.

The deceased, identified as Tahira, Amina, Mohammad Moqbool Sheikh, Abdul Rehman, Maqsood Ahmed, Sarwa, Sameena and Yasir, all hailed from Bujithalan village.

Six wounded passengers have been admitted to the Baramulla Government Medical College, where their condition is reported to be stable. One of the wounded has been shifted to a hospital in Srinagar.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha promptly announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the injured while expressing profound grief over the accident.

“An ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh will be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the tragedy. The injured would be given Rs 1 lakh. The district administration has been directed to immediately provide all possible assistance to families of the victims,” Manoj Sinha wrote on X.

Political leaders from Kashmir including Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, vice president Omar Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti, People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone, and president of Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party Altaf Bukhari, extended their condolences to families of the deceased.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.

#Baramulla #Kashmir #Srinagar