Four members of a family died when the car, in which they were traveling, plunged into a 700 ft gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway on Monday.
The incident took place in the morning when the deceased, including two Muslim religious scholars identified as Imam of Jamia Masjid, Sangaldan, Mufti Abdul Hameed (32) and his father, Mufti Jamal Din (65), died on spot.
The accident took place near Prem Mandir in the Chenani area of the Udhampur district around 8.30 in the morning when the family from Sangaldan in Gool was on its way to Jammu from their Gool-Sangaldan village in the Ramban district.
The Imam’s mother Hajra Begum (60) and nephew Adil Gulzar (16) were rescued and shifted to a hospital in the Udhampur district where they succumbed to their injuries.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has expressed grief over the loss of lives.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) tweeted; “We join the people of Sangladan in mourning the death of revered Islamic Scholars in a tragic accident at Sarmoli. Mufti Hamid Sb & Mufti Jamal sb led a pious life and were a source spiritual guidance for people across District Ramban. May their souls rest in eternal peace”.