Baramulla, May 4: A routine traffic jam near the construction site of the Delina flyover turned into a heart-wrenching tragedy on Friday evening as an eight-year-old boy lost his life in a horrific accident, leaving his mother critically injured and the entire area in shock and mourning.
Aijaz Ahmad Mangral of Delina Baramulla, along with his wife and twin sons, Hamaad and Emaad, accompanied by a family friend, had returned from Srinagar late Friday evening.
Little did they know that their short journey home would end in devastation.
As they approached the under-construction flyover, their vehicles became ensnared in the traffic jam, a common occurrence at the site.
With their home merely a five-minute walk away, the mother decided to take the twins and walk home, carrying an egg tray with her.
Tragedy struck in an instant as a speeding truck from the opposite direction collided with the family, running over young Hamaad, and instantly taking his life.
In a desperate attempt to save her son, the mother too leaped towards the truck and sustained critical injuries.
Meanwhile, unaware of the unfolding tragedy, the father and his friend stepped out of the vehicle upon hearing the commotion, only to find their worst fears realized as they saw the scattered eggs on the road and realized their loved ones were involved in the accident.
“Hamaad was under the tire of the truck while his mother was severely injured,” said Aijaz Ahmad, the grief-stricken father.
Currently, the mother is fighting for her life at GMC Baramulla.
Her condition is critical while the family grapples with the sudden loss of young Hamaad, who was eagerly preparing for a school event scheduled for the following day.
The incident has once again brought attention to the recurring traffic congestion issues at the Delina flyover construction site, where ambulances and commuters seeking advanced medical treatment in Srinagar often find themselves trapped in gridlock.
Meanwhile, locals urged the Baramulla district administration to ensure the presence of Traffic Police or to streamline the traffic movement near the under-constriction flyover sites at Delina and Sangrama.
