5 year old girl among 13 pilgrims killed as van falls into Chenab

22/08/2018

Jammu, Aug 21: A van carrying pilgrims to a temple skidded off the road and fell into the Chenab river in Kishtwar district today, killing all 13 occupants of the vehicle, including a five-year-old girl, police said.
The incident took place around 7:30 am when they were going to the Mata Machail temple in the district, Senior Superin-tendent of Police (SSP) Rajinder Kumar Gupta said. He said 13 people, including 11 pilgrims, were killed. The deceased included the driver and conductor of the van, he said.
The girl died due to injuries while she was being taken to a hospital, the SSP said. Gupta, who supervised the rescue operations, said police and locals launched the operation as soon as information was received, and all the bodies have been recovered.
Jammu and Kashmir DGP S P Vaid said, "A vehicle carrying pilgrims to the Machail Mata temple rolled down and fell into the Chenab river, around 28 km from Kishtwar, in the Padder belt area today,"
Earlier, Vaid had said 11 people were killed and the child was the lone survivor. Over one lakh pilgrims have visited mountain shrine of Machain Mata in Paddar hills of Kishtwar till now. This is the second major accident in Kishtwar district in the past 24 hours.
Yesterday, seven people, including a policeman, were killed and 12 others injured after two vehicles came under a landslide in the district. The incident took place at Kulligad on the Doda-Kishtwar road. Huge boulders and debris suddenly came down from a hill burying a mini-bus and a car plying on the Doda-Kishtwar road, the SSP had said.
Governor N.N. Vohra has expressed grief over the loss of lives in a tragic accident in which a vehicle carrying MachailYatra pilgrims rolled down into Chenab river in Kishtwar district. Conveying his sincere sympathy to the next of kin of the deceased passengers he has wished speedy recovery to those injured in the accident. Governor has issued directions to the Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar to ensure immediate medical treatment to the injured.
Governor, who has repeatedly expressed concern over recurring road accidents, has today directed Divisional Commi-ssioners Kashmir and Jammu to ensure that the Deputy Commissioners hold immediate meetings of the District Road Safety Committees and he shall chair a meeting this Saturday to review causes of recurring fatal accidents. National Conference President DrFarooq Abdullah and Vice President Mr Omar Abdullah on Tuesday expressed profound grief over deaths in tragic road mishap in Kewad area of Paddar in Kishtwar district today and loss of several lives due to landslide near Thathtri yesterday.
Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mr Omar Abdullah conveyed condolences to the bereaved families, prayed for peace to the departed souls and wished speedy recovery to injured in the two mishaps.
Provincial President MrDevender Singh Rana, former ministers Mr Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, Mr Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy and Provincial Youth National Conference President Mr Ajaz Jan also condoled the deaths in the two incidents and prayed for peace to departed souls. They described the deaths in tragic circumstances as most unfortunate and conveyed their condolences to the bereaved families.
Mr Rana and the other National Conference leaders also wished speedy recovery to the injured and urged the Governor's Administration for release of immediate financial assistance and ensure free treatment of the injured.

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