Two killed, 4 injured as vehicle rolls down into deep gorge at Sinthan Top

Anantnag, Jun 20: Two persons were killed and four others suffered injuries after a vehicle rolled down and fell into a deep gorge at Sinthan Top area of Kokernag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday.

A police officer concerned at Police Station Larnoo while talking to GNS said that six persons were injured after the vehicle (Wagon R) they were travelling in skidded off the road and rolled down into the gorge at Sinthan Top.

“The mishap occurred when they were returning from Sinthan top”.

A rescue operation was immediately launched after being informed about the mishap, he said, adding that all the six injured were immediately taken to Primary Health Centre (PHC) Larnoo, Kokernag where two among the injured were declared brought dead on arrival.

The officer said that among the remaining injured, two were shifted to district hospital Anantnag and other two critically injured have been referred to Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment.

He identified the deceased as two persons namely Nissar Ahmad Rather and Rifat Maqbool of Hillar, Kokerng.

“A case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigations were taken up,” the officer said.

Sinthen top is a mountain pass, a popular tourist destination located between South Kashmir’s Breng Valley (Sub-District Kokernag) in Anantnag district and Kishtwar in Jammu region.

The Sinthan pass connects Kashmir valley with Jammu Province through Kistwar. It is 12,500 feet (3,800 m) above sea level and is snow-capped for most of the year. It is located on the Anantnag-Kokernag-Kishtwar section of NH 244, and is 130 km south of Srinagar and 73 km from Anantnag and 48 km from Kokernag. Sinthan Top has no local population. Shepherds from adjoining places like Kokernag, Duksum, and tourists and those working in the tourism industry may stay overnight in tents. (GNS)