4 tourists from Kerala, local driver die in Zojila Pass accident

Ganderbal, Dec 5: Five persons, including four tourists, died after their cab met with an accident at Zojila Pass on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway in Ganderbal district on Tuesday afternoon.

An official told Greater Kashmir that a cab on its way back from Zero Point towards Sonamarg with at least seven tourists from Kerala onboard met an accident and plunged into a gorge at Yadav Morh near Zojila Pass on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway.

He said that a rescue operation was launched immediately by Police, SDRF, and BRO along with a health team.
The official said that four tourists died on the spot in the mishap.

He said that two other persons, including the driver of the ill-fated vehicle, were seriously injured in the mishap.

They were moved to the Public Health Centre (PHC) Sonamarg where they were referred to SKIMS, Soura for specialised treatment.

However, the local driver, who has been identified as Ajaz Ahmad Awan of Satrina, Kangan, succumbed on the way to the tertiary care facility.

He said that two more people travelling in the cab suffered minor injuries in the mishap.

SDPO Kangan Muzaffar Jan, SHO Sonamarg Fayaz Ahmed, officials of BRO, and SDRF component Gund were on the spot and the rescue operation was underway at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, Police have taken cognisance of the incident.