DACHHAN (KISHTWAR), Aug 15: Five workers of the Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project were killed on Saturday after the Scorpio they were travelling in skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge before landing in a rivulet in the Dachhan area of Kishtwar district.
The accident occurred around 10:30 am when the vehicle, bearing registration number HR29AG-0648, was travelling from the Dangduroo project site towards Sounder.
According to officials, the vehicle rolled down a steep mountain near Yaivan in the Tender area and plunged into the Madhusudan rivulet, a tributary of the Chenab. The occupants were reportedly thrown out of the vehicle due to the impact as it rolled down the slope.
Locals, along with police personnel, immediately launched a rescue operation and recovered the bodies of all five occupants.
The deceased have been identified as Yassir Malik, son of Ghulam Haider Malik, of Suid; Mohsin, son of Ghulam Rasool Sagar, of Tender; Mohd Younus Shah, son of Mohd Ashraf Shah, of Suid; Murad Ahmed of Ramban; and Saddam of Neel Top, Ramban (Banihal).
Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma confirmed the accident and said all five deceased were workers engaged with the Pakal Dul project at Dangduroo.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh, expressed shock and grief over the accident. In a post on X, he said he had spoken to the Deputy Commissioner and was informed that the Scorpio had rolled into a deep gorge at Yaivan, resulting in the death of all five passengers.
He expressed condolences to the bereaved families and said a rescue team had reached the site.
Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident.
