7 killed after vehicle falls into gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Seven people were killed after a vehicle they were traveling in skidded off the mountainous road and fell into a deep gorge in Indian- controlled Kashmir, police said Monday.

The accident took place Sunday evening at Gulabgarh in Kishtwar district, about 267 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"In a tragic road accident last evening seven people were killed after a vehicle carrying them rolled down into deep gorge at Gulabgarh near Padder," a police official said.

Following the accident, police officials and locals rushed to the spot to carry out rescue operations.

"All the seven people were pulled out in severely critical condition and shifted to primary health center (PHC) Atholi in police and other vehicles, where doctors pronounced them as brought dead," the police official said.

The ill-fated vehicle was on way from village Sohal to Gulabgarh in the district.

Police officials said negligent driving was the reason behind the deadly accident.

Last month 11 people including three women and a child were killed in a similar accident in Kupwara district of the region,

Deadly road accidents are common in India, which are often caused due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving. Endi