Five killed, seven injured as Scorpio plunges into Kishanganga River

SRINAGAR, Sep 28 : Five people, including a nine-month-old infant, were killed and seven others injured after a Scorpio vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into the Kishanganga River in the Tangdhar area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Monday.

Officials said the accident occurred near the Line of Control when the vehicle was travelling from Teetwal towards Semari. The Scorpio reportedly skidded off the road and rolled down into the river.

The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Idrees, 30, Hamza, nine months, Sayeeda Begum, 28, and Shabir Ahmad, 50, all residents of Semari, and Raja Arshad, 30, a resident of Teetwal.

The driver and six other passengers sustained injuries in the accident. The injured were shifted to Sub-District Hospital (SDH), Tangdhar, where five of them were later referred for advanced treatment.

A police official said a case under Sections 281 and 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered and an investigation is underway.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. In a post on X, he said he was deeply pained by the tragedy and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured. He also directed the district administration to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed deep grief over the accident, describing it as a tragic incident in the Karnah-Tangdhar area. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for peace for the departed souls and strength for their families.

Omar directed the district administration and medical authorities to provide the injured with the best possible treatment and all necessary medical care. He also asked the authorities to extend all possible assistance to the affected families.

Jailed Member of Parliament and Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) leader Engineer Rashid also expressed deep grief over the tragedy. AIP spokesman Inam-un-Nabi urged the authorities to provide all necessary support to the families of the deceased and ensure that the affected families do not face additional hardship in the aftermath of the accident.