Excelsior Correspondent
AKHNOOR, June 2: In yet another accident in Akhnoor area of Jammu district within a week, two people lost their lives, and 17 others were injured, five of them severely.
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On May 30, 22 people died and 69 were injured in an accident at Tungi Morh area in Tanda Village of Akhnoor. The ill-fated bus that met with an accident was travelling to the Shiv Khori Shrine in Reasi district from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh.
A senior police officer told the Excelsior that a matador (JK02AQ-8477) en route to Selanwali from Akhnoor lost control near Dhangri in Kaleeth Village around 5:45 pm today. The vehicle was driven by the cleaner, who lacked proper driving skills, resulting in injuries to 19 people, he said.
Following the accident, he said, a Police team, aided by locals, launched a rescue operation, and the injured were taken to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Akhnoor, where two were declared dead on arrival, while five seriously injured individuals were referred to Government Medical College Jammu for further treatment. The remaining injured are being treated at SDH Akhnoor, he said.
The deceased were identified as Divyansh Bhagat (26), son of Harbans Lal of Chajwal, Kharah Balli, Khour, and Kewal Kumar (26), son of Chuni Lal of Sarmala, Kharah Balli, Khour.
Those shifted to GMC Jammu are Sunny Kumar (34), son of Ashok Kumar of Pallanwala; Kailasho Devi (50) of Sarmala, Kot Maira; Mahi Chib (17), daughter of Baloch Singh of Bawa Tallab, Marh, Jammu; Pooja Devi (35), wife of Bala Chand of Bawa Tallab, Marh, Jammu; and Anjali Devi (23), daughter of Romesh Lal of Kot Maira, Akhnoor, Jammu while the injured at SDH Akhnoor were identified as Jagdish Raj (50), son of Hans Raj of Narayana, Khour; Priyanaka Devi (20), daughter of Kama Ram of Jogwan, Khour; Goutam Sharma (28), son of Gharu Ram of Bardoh; Kuldeep Raj of Bhalwal Brahamana, his wife Radha Rani (32), and daughters Peehu (8) and Yashavi; Vidyanshi (14), daughter of Sohan Lal of Salenwali, Khour; Kulwant Kumar (40), son of Darshan Lal of Shahpur, Narayana; Nisha Devi, wife of late Bachan Lal of Bardoh, Akhnoor, her daughter Devanshi (7) and son Devyanshu (9); and Manvi Chib (age unknown), daughter of Baloch Singh of Bawa Talab, Marh, Jammu.
According to the police officer, the accident occurred after the driver handed over the vehicle to his cleaner, who was inexperienced.
“Barely driving a few kilometres after taking the control of the steering, the cleaner hit the vehicle and ran away,” he said.
The driver has also fled the scene after the accident, he said, adding that a manhunt has been launched to locate both driver and the cleaner.
Meanwhile, police have registered a case FIR number 93/2024 under the relevant Sections of the law at Akhnoor Police Station and started further investigation into the matter.
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