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Sonamarg Highway Crash: 6 Tourists Injured in Minibus Collision

A serious road accident occurred in Sonamarg when two minibuses collided on the Srinagar-Leh national highway. Six tourists from Udhampur sustained injuries in the crash, with two requiring specialized treatment at SKIMS hospital in Srinagar. Local officials identified rash driving and overspeeding as common causes of accidents in J&K's hilly regions. The Traffic Department has implemented strict measures including license cancellations and special squads to curb traffic violations.

Key Points: Six Tourists Injured in Sonamarg Road Accident Jammu Kashmir

  • Two minibuses collided on Srinagar-Leh highway near Sonamarg hill station
  • Injured tourists initially treated at PHC Sonamarg before hospital transfers
  • Rash driving and overspeeding identified as major accident causes in hilly areas
  • Traffic Department deploying special squads with strict penalties for offenders
2 min read

Six tourists injured in road accident in J&K's Sonamarg

Six tourists from Udhampur injured in minibus collision on Srinagar-Leh highway near Sonamarg hill station. Two critically injured shifted to SKIMS hospital.

"The accident occurred when two minibuses collided with each other, causing injuries to six occupants - Official Statement"

Srinagar, Oct 28

Six were injured in a road accident in the Sonamarg hill station of Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district on Tuesday, officials said.

The tourists were injured in a collision between two vehicles on the Srinagar-Leh national highway near the hill station in Ganderbal.

“The accident occurred when two minibuses collided with each other, causing injuries to six occupants, including the driver of a minibus. The injured were initially shifted to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Sonamarg for immediate medical aid, where attending doctors referred two of them for specialised treatment to super-specialty SKIMS hospital in Srinagar," an official said.

Those injured have been identified as Pawan 20, son of Chuni Lal; Dhruv 22, son of Samsar Chand; Vishaka 34, wife of Prasad; Ashish 17, son of Chuni Lal; driver Chamail Singh, son of N.K and Ujwal, daughter of Narinder Kumar, all residents of Udhampur, Jammu, the official said, adding that police has registered a case in this incident.

Rash and negligent driving, road rage, overloading and overspeeding are the major causes of road accidents in the hilly areas of J&K.

The Traffic Department has deployed special squads to check these, and stringent punishment is given to offenders.

In their widely publicised warnings, the regional transport officers (RTOs) have said that cancellation of driving licences and registration certificates is the penalty for repeat offenders of traffic rules.

If a vehicle is driven by a minor, the parents can be imprisoned in addition to the cancellation of registration certificates of such vehicles.

In their directives, the Traffic Department has advised refilling stations not to sell petrol to motorcycle/scooter drivers without helmets.

The hilly districts of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Reasi are often in the news for fatal road accidents resulting in the loss of precious lives of travellers.

The common citizens are blaming the authorities for being lenient to offenders of traffic rules, as violations of traffic rules have been very common in J&K during the last 20 years.

Stunts performed on roads by bikers is another menace that the Traffic Department officials are facing in J&K

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
I traveled to Sonamarg last month and the driving there was terrifying! Minibus drivers take so many risks on those narrow roads. The government should install more safety barriers and speed breakers in accident-prone areas.
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Arjun K
While I appreciate the traffic department's efforts, I respectfully disagree that they're doing enough. I see traffic violations every day in J&K - overspeeding, no helmets, reckless overtaking. The enforcement needs to be consistent, not just occasional drives. 🚓
S
Sarah B
As someone who frequently visits J&K for tourism, I've noticed the roads have improved but driver behavior hasn't. Tour operators should be held accountable for their drivers' training and safety records. Prayers for the injured 🙏
V
Vikram M
The fact that two had to be shifted to SKIMS shows how serious their injuries were. Mountain driving requires special skills and patience. Maybe the government should mandate special hill driving certification for commercial drivers in these areas.
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Michael C
Good to see the authorities are taking steps like not selling petrol to helmetless riders. But implementation is key. Hope the injured tourists from Udhampur make a full recovery. Tourism is vital for J&K's economy and safety should be priority number one.

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