Gandoh, June 15 – A horrific road accident in the Shallala area of Gandoh Bhalessa, Doda district, left 12 people injured, three of them critically, on Sunday afternoon. The incident occurred when a private car travelling from Gandoh to Gowari collided with a passenger vehicle (Sumo) heading from Gowari to Gandoh near a workshop, according to locals who spoke to The Chenab Times. The impact caused the Sumo driver to lose control, sending the vehicle plummeting into a gorge, while the private car sustained severe damage to its front-right but remained on the road.
Locals and emergency services rushed to the scene, and the injured were initially taken to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) in Gandoh for treatment. The Block Medical Officer (BMO) of Gandoh stated that 11 of the victims were later referred to the Government Medical College (GMC) in Doda for specialised care. The injured have been identified as Mohd. Irfan (22) from Dhrewari, Akhil Kumar (20) from Gowari, Sonika Devi (28) from Bharghi, Surekha Devi (28) from Kahal Jugassar, Savita Devi (20) from Dhrewari, Vijay Kumar (20) from Kahal Jugassar, Mohd. Iqbal (18) from Dhadkai, Rehan Shafkat (22) from Bharghi, Shakeel Ahmed (36) from Sanwara, and Mohd. Imran (36) from Smaie. Two individuals remain unidentified, adding to the challenges faced by authorities.
The accident sparked panic in the region, with locals flocking to SDH Gandoh to check on the victims. Many expressed their anguish and offered prayers for the injured. The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of driving in the hilly terrains of Jammu and Kashmir, where narrow roads and sharp turns often lead to fatal accidents. Just last month, on May 6, a bus in Poonch fell into a gorge, killing four and injuring 44. On May 4, another tragedy in Ramban claimed the lives of three soldiers after their vehicle plunged 700 feet.
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Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times
