Srinagar:
Two people were killed while another was rescued after two vehicles skidded off the road and fell into the Lidder stream in south Kashmir's Pahalgam hill resort, official sources said today.
Efforts are on to locate the three others who were also travelling in the vehicles, although the chances of their survival are bleak, they said.
The mishap took place near Nunwan, 100 km from Srinagar, at the tourist resort late last night and so far bodies of two persons were fished out by the rescue parties from the fast flowing stream, they said.
The deceased were identified as Mudasir Ahamd Shah and Yasir Farooq, both residents of Srinagar.
Another man - Sajad Ahmad Lankar of Srinagar - was rescued from one of the vehicles by the police this morning after remaining trapped atop the vehicle for nearly 12 hours, they said, adding that heavy rain and poor visibility could have resulted in the accident.
"Both the vehicles fell in the turbulent stream and due to heavy rainfall got washed away," they said.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon sought the help of Army and CRPF to assist the rescue operation, they said, adding that Indian Air Force was also requisitioned for a helicopter.
The rescue workers led by sub divisional police officer (SDPO) Munir Ahmed make all efforts to retrieve the trapped person, but their attempts failed due to nightfall, heavy rain and the turbulence in the stream, they said.