4 killed after vehicle rolls down into gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Indian-controlled Kashmir, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and another critically injured after a vehicle skidded off road and fell into 500-feet deep gorge in Indian- controlled Kashmir, police said Wednesday.

The accident took place on Mughal Road near village Chandimarh in Poonch district, about 135 km south of Srinagar, city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Four persons including a driver were killed after a vehicle rolled down into 500-feet deep gorge on Mughal road last evening," a police official said. "The vehicle was engaged by a private cellular company to carry material for work on some mobile towers in the mountainous area."

Following the accident, traffic police officials and locals rushed to the spot to retrieve bodies from the mangled vehicle.

Reports said the bodies were kept at Surankote hospital.

"The critically injured was first removed to Surankote hospital but later referred to Medical College Hospital, Jammu," the official said. "The condition of injured laborer was critical as he had suffered multiple injuries on head and other body parts besides fractures."

The deceased persons were engaged by the cellular company.

Last week 25 people were killed and 35 others injured after a passenger bus carrying them skidded off road and fell into 200- feet gorge in region's Udhampur district.

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