Accident claims 3 lives, 7 injured
People blocked NHW, DC initiates inquiry
Tawheed Ahmed
RAMBAN, Feb 23: Residents of district Ramban staged protest demonstration against the state government as well as district administration for not providing adequate facilities to the patients of district Ramban, after an accident occurred on Ukhral this afternoon.
More than 500 people across district Ramban blocked the National Highway at Ramban town for more than two hours and raised the slogans against centre as well as state government and district administration besides health department and MLA Ramban.
They also burn the effigy of the state government and demanded that the accused should be punished for the death due to the accidents. The authorities only provide facilities to their officials and neglecting the common people. They demanded that Cheneni-Nashri Tunnel should be open for public at earliest so that so that more people will not die in future.
The protest came to an end after the intervention of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ramban Mohammad Aijaz who assured the protestors that the administration will take strict action against the accursed and initiated an inquiry in this regard to SSP Ramban and asked him to submit the report within ten days.
Later DC alongwith Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban Mohan Lal visited hospital to enquire about the health of the accident victims and said that best possible treatment by the hospital administration.
The protestors was lead by District Congress Committee president Ramban Arun Singh Raju who threatened if the administration will not take any action within the prescribed duration they will call for mass protest and block NHW.
It is pertinent to mention here that three died on spot and one on the way to Jammu whereas other seven were injured when a vehicle Tata Sumo bearing registration no. JK19-1051 skidded off the road and fall into deep gorge on 500 feet at Shaligarah Ukhral Road of district Ramban, this morning.
The deceased were identified as Rashid Gani, Muzimal Chopan (driver) and and Yasir Runyal of Marnal Maligam while injured persons were identified as Mohd Farooq Gani of Thana Maligam, Mohd Rafiq Gani of Halla, Mushtaq Ahmed of Halla, Tanveer Bhat of Gholla, Farooq Ahmed Runyal of Gollha, Jameela Begum wife of Farooq Ahmed Runyal with her daughter.
After getting information QRT of local police and Red Cross volunteers reached and started rescue operation. All the injured persons shifted to Government Hospital Ukhral from where they were further shifted to District Hospital Ramban,
Later five patients were referred to Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu for further treatment in which one succumbed on the way to Jammu. A case has been registered in this regard.
