Tempo Traveller filled with tourists plunges into 60-foot deep gorge in Sonamarg, 18 injured

A horrific road accident has occurred in the Ganderbal district of Jammu-Kashmir, where a Tempo Traveller carrying tourists plunged into a gorge approximately 60 feet deep. A total of 18 people, including the vehicle driver, have been injured in this accident. According to reports by India Today and Amar Ujala, the condition of 6 people among the injured is reported to be extremely critical. The accident took place on Tuesday near the Gund Sumbal Power House in the Kangan area.

According to available information, this Tempo Traveller was travelling from the famous tourist destination Sonamarg towards Srinagar. When the vehicle reached the Kangan area, it suddenly lost its way and fell into a deep gorge. The accident was so severe that all passengers aboard the vehicle sustained injuries. As soon as they reached the spot, local residents and police personnel immediately commenced rescue operations. Efforts were made to pull all the injured out of the gorge and provide medical assistance.

Due to the high number of injured and the need for immediate treatment, ambulances were called from various health centres in the area. Ambulances were summoned from the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) of Sonamarg, Gund, and Ganderbal. All the injured persons were first moved to PHC Gund, where they were provided with primary treatment. Subsequently, doctors there referred all 18 injured persons to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, in Srinagar for further treatment.

Kangan Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rajesh Raina confirmed to Kashmir News Trust that 18 people, including the driver, were injured in this accident. He stated that all the injured have been sent from PHC Gund to SKIMS Srinagar and 6 of them are in serious condition. A case has been registered by the police and further investigation has been launched.

The list of the injured includes tourists from Gujarat, West Bengal, and Punjab. Tourists from Ahmedabad and Surat cities of Gujarat have fallen victim to this accident. Identified individuals include 58-year-old Sharadaben and 59-year-old Rameshbhai from Ahmedabad. Additionally, 50-year-old Shobha and Rajesh Kumar, also from Ahmedabad, have been injured. From Surat city, 42-year-old Dayasha, Mukeshbhai, his wife Kalaben, and son Rohanbhai are also reported to have been injured.

Tourists from Murshidabad and other areas of West Bengal have also been injured in this mishap. This includes the names of 24-year-old Swarnaduti Ghosh, 48-year-old Mala Ghosh, and 61-year-old Surjit Ghosh. The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Jagdish (son of Amrik Singh), a resident of Gurdaspur, Punjab.

Regarding the details of the injuries, Sharadaben, Rameshbhai, Dayasha, Shobha, and Rajesh Kumar have sustained serious head trauma. Swarnaduti Ghosh of West Bengal has sustained a hip injury, while it was noted that Surjit Ghosh has sustained an injury to the left side of his chest.

The exact causes of the accident have not yet been fully clarified and the police investigation is ongoing. However, preliminary assessment suggests that due to overspeeding, the driver might have lost control of the vehicle, causing the Tempo Traveller to veer off the road and plunge into the gorge. The police are currently investigating the circumstances under which the vehicle went off the road.

The accident occurred on the route connecting Sonamarg and Srinagar. This route is very popular among tourists, and a large number of tourists pass through this way. All efforts were made by the local police and administration to ensure the injured reached the hospital in time.

Following this incident, discussions regarding vehicle speed and safety on tourist routes have once again commenced. The police are investigating all aspects of the accidental event to prevent such mishaps in the future. Currently, all the injured are undergoing treatment at SKIMS Srinagar, and doctors are monitoring their condition.