Srinagar, Sep 28: A nine-month-old toddler, her father and mother were among five people killed after a passenger vehicle skidded off the Teetwal-Simari road and plunged into the Kishenganga river in the Semari area of Karnah in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Monday.
The accident involved a passenger vehicle bearing registration number JK07-1299. The vehicle reportedly went off the road and fell into the river, leaving five people dead and eight others injured.
The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Idrees, 32, son of Kaser Din; his nine-month-old daughter Hamza; Sayeeda Begum, 30, wife of Mohammad Idrees; Shabir Ahmad, 70; and Raja Irshad, 27, son of Majeed Khan.
The injured have been identified as Sajid Ahmad of Semari, Naveed Ahmad, son of Ghulam Hussain, Mushtaq Ahmad, son of Ghulam Nabi, both from Semari, Farhan Khursheed, son of Khursheed Ahmad, from Teetwal, Javid Ahmad of Kadhama, Ashia Begum, wife of Abdul Hameed, from Semari, Ajaz Manzoor, son of Manzoor Ahmad, from Semari, and Shariq, son of Mukhtar Ahmad, from Teetwal.
The injured were initially shifted to Sub-District Hospital Tangdhar for treatment. Those requiring advanced medical care were subsequently referred to hospitals in Srinagar.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives in the tragic road accident.
In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor said, “Deeply pained by the loss of lives in an unfortunate road accident in Kupwara. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the early recovery of the injured.”
He said he had directed the district administration to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed deep grief over the tragedy in Karnah-Tangdhar and directed the administration and medical authorities to provide the best possible medical care to all the injured. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Shrikant Suse and SSP Kupwara, Syed Al-Tahir Gilani, visited Seemari in Karnah Sub-Division, where a tragic road accident claimed five lives and left several others injured.
Following the accident, the District Administration and Kupwara police launched a swift rescue operation, comprising teams from the civil administration, police, Indian Army and emergency services. All passengers were evacuated and rushed to SDH Tangdhar, where five were declared brought dead.
After medico-legal formalities, the bodies were handed over to their families for last rites. Six injured passengers were stabilised and referred to GMC Handwara. Senior officers from district administration and police visited GMC Handwara to monitor the situation.
During the visit, the DC and the SSP inspected the accident site, took stock of the situation and met the bereaved families. They expressed deep grief, extended heartfelt condolences and assured the families of all possible support from the district administration.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed deep sadness over the accident and called for urgent attention to road safety, infrastructure and preventive measures amid the frequent road accidents across Jammu and Kashmir. He offered prayers for the victims and their families.
People’s Conference president Sajad Lone also expressed grief over the accident at Semari, saying five precious lives had been lost and several others injured. He extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls and a speedy recovery for the injured.
Vehicle’s fitness certificate had expired in 2025
A vehicle search screenshot showing details of the passenger vehicle involved in the accident indicates that its fitness certificate had expired on May 6, 2025.
The vehicle, registered as JK07-1299, was listed as a diesel-powered Maxi Cab (LPV) under the Kargil Regional Transport Office in Ladakh. Its registration date was November 7, 2006, and its displayed age was 19 years and 10 months.
The screenshot also shows that the vehicle’s road tax was valid until September 30, 2026, insurance until March 13, 2027, pollution under control (PUC) certificate until August 31, 2026, and permit until November 5, 2025.
The vehicle was marked as hypothecated, while its emission norm was listed as unavailable.
The displayed records raise questions about the vehicle’s fitness status at the time of the accident. However, the screenshot alone does not establish whether a subsequent fitness certificate had been issued or whether any regulatory action had been taken.
The accident has once again raised concerns over road safety in the mountainous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, where narrow roads, difficult terrain and inadequate safety infrastructure pose risks to commuters. Further details about the circumstances of the accident and the condition of the injured are awaited.
