Zojila Accident | Zero Point Zojila closed for tourists

Ganderbal, Dec 6: The authorities on Tuesday carried out all the medico-legal formalities of all the four tourists from Kerala who along with a local driver died in a tragic road accident near Zojila Pass on Srinagar-Leh highway on Monday.

An official said that a police team of police station Sonamarg headed by Station House Officer Sonamarg carried the dead bodies to Sub District Hospital Kangan and District Hospital Ganderbal where the medical teams conducted the autopsy of the deceased.

Later they were taken to police control room Srinagar where from all the four bodies will be airlifted to their native places.

Station house officer police station Sonamarg, Fayaz Ahmed, told Greater Kashmir that the medico- legal formalities were conducted and the bodies have been taken to PCR Srinagar, where from they will be airlifted to their home.

SHO said that among the three other injured tourists two have been discharged from the hospital where as one is said to be in a critical condition and is undergoing treatment at SKIMS Soura. Meanwhile, the authorities have closed the Zero Point Zojila a tourist attraction place on Srinagar-Leh highway for tourists.

Senior Superintendent of Police Traffic Rural Kashmir Ravinderpal Singh on Tuesday visited the accident spot at Zojila Pass. Talking to Greater Kashmir Ravinderpal Singh said that it “is an unfortunate and tragic mishap which claimed five human lives” adding that the department is investigating the possibility that led to this tragic road accident.

SSP said that no tourist vehicle will be allowed to Zero Point Zojila from Tuesday, however the Ladakh bound traffic will ply as per routine traffic advisory issued by police and traffic department. “We have closed the traffic movement for Zero point Zojila which is a tourist attraction place. The traffic police will act tough against those drivers who will be seen violating traffic rules and regulations” SSP said.

Meanwhile, the four tourists from Kerala who died in the Zojila road accident are said to be daily-wage workers who loved to travel. They were said to be neighbours and avid travellers, and all are residents of Ward 12 (Manchira) in Nallepilly grama panchayat. “They left for Kashmir on train on November 30,” said R Kishore Kumar, neighbour and councillor of Chittur municipality as per a report.