Ganderbal, Dec 05: In a heart-wrenching incident, five tourists and their driver lost their lives in a catastrophic road accident near Panimatha at Zojila Pass on Tuesday. The incident occurred when a Tata Sumo vehicle, bearing registration no. 5801/JK04C, traveling from Zero point towards Sonmarg, lost control near Panimatha and plunged into a deep gorge.
The impact resulted in the instantaneous demise of all five tourists on board. Three other tourists sustained injuries, one of whom, in critical condition, has been rushed to SKIMS Soura for urgent medical treatment. The driver of the ill-fated vehicle, identified as Ajaz Ahmed Awan, son of Mohammad Idris Awan from Satruna Kangan, was also referred to SKIMS Soura for further treatment, but tragically succumbed on the way to the hospital.
The injured individuals were promptly transported to PHC Sonmarg for immediate medical attention, where one of them, identified as 33-year-old Manoj, was subsequently referred to SKIMS Soura for additional care. The conditions of the remaining two injured tourists are reported to be stable, as confirmed by medical authorities.
Upon receiving the distressing news, teams from Sonmarg police station, led by SHO Fayaz Ahmad, joined forces with SDRF Gund component and PHC Sonmarg, along with health workers, to initiate a swift rescue operation. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, five individuals were declared dead at the accident site.
The identities of the deceased tourists are yet to be ascertained, compounding the grief surrounding the tragic incident. Meanwhile, the rescue operation at Zojila Pass is ongoing, with authorities working tirelessly to manage the aftermath of this devastating accident.
