The site of the accident that claimed five lives in Doda district on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Batote/Srinagar, September 7
Eight persons were killed and around 40 injured in various accident in Jammu and Kashmir over the past 24 hours.

Five persons were killed and 15 injured when a Doda-bound minibus skidded of the Doda-Bhaderwah road into the Neeru nullah at Seri, 15km from Bhaderwah town, this afternoon.

Around 20 persons, including the driver, eight children and three women were onboard the Tempo Traveller (JK06-3469) when the incident occurred.

Napal (15), Suresh (22), both from Dilwara in Uttar Pradesh, and Sardari Lal (58) of Bhaderwah were killed on the spot, while Bogi (38), also from Dilwara, and her seven-year-old daughter died in the Doda district hospital.

Malwa (50), Kajal (6), Chand (32), bus driver Irfan (40) were airlifted from the District Hosptial, Doda, to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, for treatment. The injured undergoing treatment at the Doda hospital include: Ingur (28), Abdul Rashid (45), Bam (48), Junjee (5), Kampu (5), Chillu Devi (18), two children aged three and five years (all from Dilwara in Uttar Pradesh), Menwa (35) of Nanpra in UP and Zarina (4).

Road mishaps also claimed three lives in the Kashmir valley.In central Kashmir’s Budgam district, a bus overturned near Hushroo, resulting in injuries to 25 persons. The injured were taken to various hospitals in Budgam and Srinagar where two persons succumbed to their injuries.

They were identified as 55-year-old Ghulam Mohammad Najar and 45-year-old Ghulam Hassan Malik. Both were residents of Wajam village in Budgam district.

Ghulam Hyder Rather, 60, succumbed to his injuries received in a road mishap last month. Two more persons were injured in various other road accidents in Srinagar, a police spokesman said.

Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Doda-Bhadarwah road accident.

The Governor expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of all those injured in the accident and hoped the state police and traffic departments would take steps to ensure non-recurrence of such incidents in future.