Several tourists sustained injuries when a Tempo Traveller carrying them skidded off the Srinagar-Sonamarg National Highway near Gund in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Tuesday evening. The vehicle was en route to Srinagar from the popular tourist resort of Sonamarg when the incident occurred.
Vehicle Loses Control Near Sharp Bend
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the tempo traveller, bearing registration number DL1VC 5231, was travelling towards Srinagar. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle near a sharp bend in the Sumbal area of Gund. The vehicle veered off the road and came to rest on the adjacent embankment.
Local residents, police, and ambulance services were immediately alerted and rushed to the scene to provide assistance. Rescue teams from the local police station and emergency medical services arrived promptly to extract the passengers from the stranded vehicle.
Injured Evacuated to Medical Facilities
All individuals who sustained injuries were initially evacuated to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Gund. From there, those with serious injuries were referred to hospitals in Srinagar for advanced emergency medical care.
Among the injured were several tourists from Gujarat, including Sharda Bi, 58, Ramesh Bhai, 59, Daysha, 42, Shobha, 50, Rajesh Kumar, and Rohan Bhai. Mukesh Bhai and Kala Ben, also from Gujarat, were among those receiving medical attention. Passengers from West Bengal, including Swarnadyyti Ghosh, 24, Mala Ghosh, and Surjeet Ghosh, 61, also sustained injuries. The driver, Jagdesh, from Gurdaspur, Punjab, was also identified among the injured.
The injured were treated for various ailments, including head trauma, hip trauma, and trauma to the left side of the chest. The precise number of individuals who sustained serious injuries requiring further treatment in Srinagar was not immediately specified, but authorities confirmed that all passengers were accounted for and received immediate medical attention.
The Srinagar-Sonamarg National Highway is a crucial route for accessing the high-altitude tourist destinations in the Kashmir Valley, including Sonamarg, known for its scenic beauty and adventure tourism opportunities. Incidents of vehicles skidding off the road, particularly during challenging weather conditions or on sharp turns, have been reported periodically on this highway. Authorities often issue advisories for drivers to exercise caution, especially during the monsoon and winter seasons, due to potential road hazards like landslides, fog, and icy patches.
The Chenab Times News Desk
