Srinagar: Eighteen tourists were injured on Tuesday when a vehicle carrying them from Kashmir’s Sonamarg tourist resort to Srinagar skidded off the road and plunged into a 60-feet deep gorge near Gund in Ganderbal district.
Local residents and police personnel rushed to the spot to evacuate the injured.
Emergency arrangements were mobilised from different parts of the area as all the occupants required medical attention.
Ambulances were called from several health facilities, including Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Sonamarg, Gund and Ganiwan.
The injured were initially shifted to PHC Gund, where they received first aid and preliminary medical treatment.
The injured were later shifted to Srinagar city for treatment.
Reports said that six of the injured tourists had been admitted to hospital in Srinagar in a critical condition.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Kangan Rajesh Raina confirmed the accident, saying that 18 people, including the driver, had sustained injuries.
A list of injured persons identified 12 occupants, including the driver.
The list included tourists from Ahmedabad and Surat in Gujarat, Murshidabad and other parts of West Bengal, and Gurdaspur in Punjab.
Among those named were Sharda Bi, 58, and Ramesh Bhai, 59, from Ahmedabad; Daysha, 42, from Surat; Shobha, 50, and Rajesh Kumar from Ahmedabad; and Swarnadyyti Ghosh, 24, Mala Ghosh, 48, and Surjeet Ghosh, 61, from West Bengal.
Mukesh Bhai, Kala Ben and Rohan Bhai, all from Gujarat, were also included in the list.
Jagdesh, a resident of Gurdaspur in Punjab, was identified as the driver of the Tempo Traveller.
The injury details available in the list mention head trauma suffered by Sharda Bi, Ramesh Bhai, Daysha, Shobha and Rajesh Kumar.
Swarnadyyti Ghosh sustained trauma to the hip, while Surjeet Ghosh suffered an injury to the left side of his chest.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on social media platform X on Tuesday evening said, “I spoke with senior officials, SKIMS Director, and the Ganderbal Deputy Commissioner regarding the unfortunate road accident at Sumbal Bala in Ganderbal. Eight injured tourists from Gujarat and West Bengal have been referred to SKIMS. I have directed the officials and the SKIMS Director to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured. Praying for their speedy recovery.”
Despite biting cold especially in mornings and evenings, scores of tourists especially from West Bengal and Gujarat are these days visiting the Valley.
Although winter tourism is yet to start, the autumn fag end tourism is going on in the Valley these days with tour and travel operators, hoteliers, taxi operators and others connected directly or indirectly with tourism doing some business during the otherwise lean tourist season in the Valley.
(IANS)
