7 die in highway accidents

Ramban, June 17: Seven persons including three women lost their lives in two separate accidents on Jammu-Srinagar highway near here on Sunday.
Police said five persons on board a truck loaded with ration supply of Food Corporation of India (FCI) were killed when the ill-fated vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a 400 feet deep gorge near Khooni Nallah late last night.
“All the five persons including the driver of the truck died on the spot”, a police officer said adding that a rescue operation was started at 4:30 am, “but there were no survivors.”
The deceased were identified as Muhammad Iqbal (driver) son of Allah Rakha resident of Nagrota Jammu, Nageena Banoo daughter of Muhammad Qasim resident of Tanta Reasi and her brothers Farooq Ahmed and Amir Hussain both sons of Ghulam Mustafa residents of Qazigund.
A couple was, meanwhile, killed when a Tata Indica car on way from Jammu to Srinagar plunged into around 300 feet deep gorge at Chamalwas, 12 kilometers from Banihal town.
Police retrieved the bodies and shifted to emergency hospital Banihal. The deceased persons have been identified as Abdul Majeed son of Wali Muhammad and his wife Saleema Bagum both residents of Tulsi Bagh Srinagar.
Jammu-Srinagar highway is the only all weather surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with rest of the world. Hundreds of people lose their lives every year in the road mishaps along the highway.