Trio Killed After Auto-Rickshaw Collides Head-On with Bus Carrying Devotees to Vaishno Devi Shrine

Katra, Oct 15, KNT: In a road accident near Serli village in Katra on Tuesday morning, three people including the driver of an auto-rickshaw and two devotees visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine lost their lives, while two others sustained injuries.

According to officials, the accident took place when an auto-rickshaw carrying pilgrims collided head-on with a bus coming from the Helipad towards Katra. The collision was so powerful that three persons died on the spot, while the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for immediate medical attention.

“The impact was severe, leading to instant fatalities,” an official told Kashmir News Trust. “Two others who were injured have been hospitalized and their condition is being closely monitored by doctors.”

Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to ascertain the circumstances that led to the fatal crash. Preliminary reports suggest that overspeeding or a possible loss of control could have caused the collision, though officials have not confirmed the exact cause. [KNT]