2 killed, 3 injured in Qazigund tunnel accident

Qazigund, April 02: Two people were killed while three others sustained injuries in a tragic road accident at the Banihal-Qazigund tunnel exit on Tuesday. The accident occurred when a vehicle rammed into a road divider, also hitting a police official on duty.
An official revealed that the accident took place on Tuesday evening when a Hector car, carrying four passengers, lost control—likely due to high speed, as revealed in CCTV footage—and crashed into the road divider at the tunnel’s right exit point.
The vehicle, bearing registration number JK01AL 0707, struck a Special Police Officer (SPO) stationed at the police post near the tunnel.
An official from Hospital told Rising Kashmir that the deceased were identified as Zubair Ahmad Wani, son of Abdul Hameed Wani, a resident of Heerpora, Shopian, and Mushtaq Ahmad Dalal, son of Ghulam Mohammad Dalal, a resident of Shopian.
The injured include Irshad Ahmad Mir, son of Abdul Rehman Mir, Umar Bashir Najar, son of Bashir Ahmad Najar, both from Shopian, and SPO Showkat Ahmad, a resident of Larkipora Anantnag.
“After initial treatment, the injured were referred to GMC Anantnag for further medical care,” official added.
Arshad Hassan, Medical Superintendent at MMABM, an associated hospital of GMC Anantnag, said that Mushtaq Ahmad Dalal was brought dead to GMC Anantnag. He said that Irshad Ahmad Mir and Showkat Ahmad were referred to SKIMS Srinagar for advanced treatment, while Umar Bashir is stable and receiving treatment at GMC Anantnag.
On Wednesday afternoon, the bodies of deceased persons reached their hometowns, turning the atmosphere into deep mourning and sorrow. Zubair Ahmad Wani from Heerpora and Mushtaq Ahmad Dalal from Bongam, Shopian, were laid to rest amid an outpouring of sorrow, as mourners bid them a tearful farewell.
The crashed vehicle remains near the tunnel, displaying a devastating scene—one of its tires detached, the driver’s side severely damaged, and only minor damage visible at the rear.
Pertinent to mention here, a week back, an SRTC bus lost control and overturned in the same tunnel, injuring 17 people. Later, the bus driver succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.