Truck crushes 3 pedestrians to death in Udhampur

UDHAMPUR — In a tragic accident, three pedestrians were crushed to death by a truck while six others sustained injuries on Sudhmahadev road in Udhampur district on Friday. Massive protests broke out at the site soon after the accident took place.

Reports reaching the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a large number of people from Baishty and other adjoining villages of the area assembled on Sudhmahadev road in Udhampur district and held a protest against the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and other agencies engaged in highway construction works.

The protest was held by people who alleged the use of unparliamentary language by some officials of NHAI and some work that is not acceptable to the local population.

This protest lasted for a few hours, which was later pacified by the police officers along with civil administration and representatives from the concerned agency.

Police said that soon after this protest ended and people were on their way to destinations, an accident took place on the spot.

“A truck bearing registration number JK01X-4682 was moving on the road when its driver lost control over the vehicle and hit two other light motor vehicles on the road and then crushed some pedestrians and people standing along the roadside,” said police.

In this accident, three people died on the spot while six others sustained injuries who were shifted to the hospital where the condition of three of the injured is stated to be critical.

The deceased have been identified as Abdul Rashid (60), son of Hassan Din; Savitri Devi (38), wife of Sudesh Kumar and Sarishta Devi (33), wife of Subash Chander—all residents of Baishty.

The injured include Mubashar Ahmed (03), Altaf Hussain (15), Gian Chand (57), Barket Begum (60), Shahin Akhter (29) and Muhammad Ramzan (28).

Meanwhile, soon after this tragic accident, another protest hit the area where a large number of people assembled on the road. The protesters were later pacified by the officers of police and civil administration.

Police said that a case under FIR number 43/2022 U/S 279/337/304-A has been registered in a local police station and further investigation is going on.