9 killed, 5 injured after truck rolls down into gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir

At least nine people were killed and five others injured after a truck belonging to India's Border Roads Organisation (BRO) skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Sunday.

The accident took place late Saturday evening at Banihal area of mountainous Ramban district, about 163 km south of Srinagar, summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Nine labourers were killed and five others injured when a General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) vehicle belonging to BRO carrying them fell into deep gorge," a senior official said.

"Five labourers died on the spot while four seriously injured later succumbed to injuries on their way to Sher -I- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences hospital in Srinagar."

Soon after the accident, police officials and locals rushed to the spot to rescue the injured and retrieve bodies from the gorge.

Officials said the ill-fated vehicle was carrying laborers back to their accommodation.

The cause of accident was being ascertained, police officials said.

However, preliminary investigations carried out by police suggest the driver lost his control over the vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve.

The BRO is building roads and tunnels in the region.

Deadly road accidents are common in India often caused by overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving. Endit