1july2019 STATE OBSERVER
In a tragic incident, at least 31 people were killed and seven others were injured when a Matador (minibus) they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Thakrie area of Keshwan in Kishtwar district on Monday morning. According to reports, the mininus bearing registration number JK17-6787 was on its way from Keshwan to Kishtwar when the driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve and the vehicle skidded off the road and rolled down about 250 feet, falling into a nallah about 23 kilometers from Kishtwar town. After receiving information about the mishap, police officials, SDRF, volunteers of Ababeel and Red Cross society alongwith locals rushed to the spot and started rescue operations. Later, Army personnel also joined the rescue operation.Allthe passengers were shifted to the district hospital in Kishtwar where doctors declared 23 as brought dead while eight others succumbed to their injuries.An official said that 38 passengers were on board when the mishap took place.Four critically injured were airlifted to GMC Jammu for further treatment.Meanwhile, on the call of the traders union in Kishtwar, all schools and business establishments in Kishtwar shut down as a mark of condolence.Ex MLC Naresh Gupta, Ex MLAs Ghulam Mohd Saroori and Sunil Sharma, and Youth Leader Randeep Bhandari expressed their condolence over the loss of precious lives. Thakur Randeep Bhandari, General Secretary DCC Kishtwar, also lashed out at the traffic management system in place and against the PWD department over poor condition of road.
