Two found dead inside stranded vehicle on highway

Banihal/Jammu, January 24

Two persons were found dead inside a load carrier at Banihal along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which remained closed for vehicular traffic for the second day on Sunday following snowfall, officials said.

Shabir Ahmad Mir (22) and Majid Gulzar Mir (30), both residents of Kralpora village of Kupwara district, were on way to Srinagar but were stranded after snowfall around Jawahar Tunnel forced closure of the highway early on Saturday, the officials said. The duo was found unconscious inside their vehicle this morning and was taken to a nearby hospital, where both of them were declared brought dead.

It was not immediately clear whether they died of severe cold or asphyxiation, the officials said, adding it was reported that they had kept heater switched during the night. The incident sparked violent protests by drivers and at the Railway chowk in Banihal. — PTI