Four people were killed after a truck skidded off the road and rolled into a deep gorge in Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The accident happened near Sher Bibi in the Banihal area.
The truck on its way from Jammu to Srinagar was hit by a massive boulder and skidded off the road, an official said. The truck fell into a deep gorge, killing all the four occupants on the spot, he added.
They said that truck (JK03J 0312) was reportedly hit by the boulder at wee hours, around 5:30 a.m. later locals and police rushed to the spot. However, there was no survivor as bodies of all four persons was recovered and shifted to SDH Banihal.
Confirming the accident from a police officer identified the deceased as Mohammad Afzal Garoo, 42, (driver), his brother Mohammad Altaf Garoo (36) son of Abdul Aziz Garoo of Redwani Anantnag, Irfan Ahmed (33) son of Abdul Hamid Bhat and Showkat Ahmed (29) son of Abdul Hamid of Srigufara Anantnag. He said that it is being verified if Irfan and Showkat too are siblings.
Around six cattle, which were being transported in the truck for domestic use, also perished in the accident, he said.
Meanwhile, the traffic on the National Highway was blocked due to the landslide.
“Jammu-Srinagar NH has been blocked because of a landslide at Kishtwari Pather Banihal. Traffic is stopped at both ends. People are advised not to travel on NH-44 without confirmation from Traffic Control Units,” a traffic official said