3 killed after car plunges into river in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Three members of a family were killed and another critically injured after a car they were traveling in skidded off the road and plunged into a river in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Monday.

The accident took place in mountainous Poonch district, about 170 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian- controlled Kashmir.

"In a tragic road accident a couple and their child were killed and another member of the family was seriously injured when their car rolled down into river from hilly road near Mandi in district Poonch yesterday," a police officer said. "The couple was killed on the spot and their two-year-old son was washed away in strong currents of the river water, while as the fourth one was found critically injured lying on the river bank."

The family according to police was returning from a Hindu shrine when the car lost control and rolled down into river.

The bodies have been kept in Mandi hospital and the seriously injured person has been referred to a hospital in Jammu city.

Reports said police and local residents have started a search for the child.

"We are trying to fish out the body of child from the river but so far we haven't succeeded and it seems he has been washed away in the river," the police officer said.

Deadly road accidents are common in this mountainous region often caused by overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving. Endi