Budgam, Jul 17 (KNO): A Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel lost his life in a road accident at the Bailey Bridge in Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district on Friday. He was laid to rest amid an outpouring of grief at his ancestral graveyard in Hanjura village.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), officials said the accident occurred when an official SOG vehicle carrying personnel while crossing the Bailey hit by an upside-down bridsteel girder of the Bailey Bridge, leaving both occupants critically injured.
The injured were immediately rushed to Sub-District Hospital Chadoora, where doctors declared one of them dead on arrival, while the other received initial treatment, he said.
The deceased was identified as Tariq Ahmad, a resident of Hanjura, Chadoora. The injured, Riyaz Ahmad, a resident of Sonpah, Budgam, was later referred to a hospital in Srinagar for specialised treatment, where he is undergoing medical care.
Hundreds of mourners attended Tariq Ahmad's funeral, where he was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard amid tears and emotional scenes. Senior police officers, civil officials, colleagues, relatives and local residents participated in the funeral prayers and paid their last respects.
Among those who attended the funeral were Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Budgam Syed Sajad Bukhari, SDPO Charar-e-Sharief Owais Ahmad, DSP Operations Chadoora Ishan Aziz, SHO Chadoora Raja Maseer, besides several other police and civil administration officials.
Residents of Hanjura described Tariq Ahmad as an honest, humble and dedicated individual. Locals said he is survived by two children and remembered him for his good conduct and compassionate nature.
"He was a very honest and humble person who was respected by everyone in the village. His untimely death is an irreparable loss for the family as well as the community," several villagers said.
Police have taken cognisance of the incident and initiated an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the accident—(KNO)