Srinagar: At least five people died and more than 30 suffered injuries in two road mishaps in the Chenab region in Jammu division, police sources said.

They said that three persons died and 20 others were injured when a mini bus turned turtle near GREF camp in Budhal village of Rajouri district.

According to the reports, the mini bus was on the way to Kotranka from Budhal.

Eyewitness said that the bus bearing registration number JK02BK 7975 was visibly overloaded with the passengers and other material.

“There were more than 75 passengers travelling along with 14 bags of rice and each rice bag was weighing about 50 kilogram,” an eyewitness said.

He added that there was no immediate response from the administration at the site of the accident.

Meanwhile, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (FCS&CA) Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has expressed grief over the tragic deaths in the accident and prayed for early recovery of the injured.

While speaking in the Legislative Assembly in Jammu today, he informed the House that three persons died and 14 were injured during the accident.

He said out of the injured, four critically injured persons were airlifted to Jammu for specialized treatment. He informed the house that adequate medical facilities are being provided to the injured persons in Jammu and at Nowshera.

He said SSP Rajouri is monitoring the relief operation.

Meanwhile, the deceased were identified as Mohammad Ashraf son of Makhna, Zulkafeel son of Abdul Shakoor and Tariq Iqbal.

In another roads accident, a five-year-old boy died and eight others were injured in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district.

Reports said that a passenger cab (bearing registration number JK 02 AL 2148) met with an accident today morning at Salwa Mendhar.

The deceased was identified as Muhammad Sajad.

The injured were shifted to Sub-district hospital Mendhar for treatment where from two critically injured Muhammad Kafeel and Zaroon Bi were referred to GMC&H Jammu for specialized treatment.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti expressed grief over the death of the three persons. The Chief Minister has extended sympathies with the bereaved families.

Mehbooba Mufti also directed the Jammu divisional administration to ensure that the injured in the accident are provided all possible assistance. She also directed airlifting of critically injured persons to Jammu for specialized treatment.

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