Overloaded bus carrying pilgrims crashes at TungiMorh; rescue operations underway
Most of the passengers were pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana
JAMMU, MAY 30: At least 22 people lost their lives and 69 others were injured when a bus carrying pilgrims plunged into a deep gorge in the TungiMorhnear the Kalidhar area of Akhnooron Thursday afternoon.
As per the officials, the bus was travelling from Hathrus, Uttar Pradesh to the Shiv Khori area of Reasi district when the accident occurred. The bus fell approximately 200 meters into a deep gorge, prompting a swift rescue operation. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital.
The accident occurred at around 1:30 pm,on Thursday, in which thirty-one males, thirty-seven females, and twenty-three children were traveling on the ill-fated bus. Among the injured, twenty-nine are females, twenty-three males, and seventeen children.
Following the accident, police, army personnel, and locals swiftly rescued the victims, and rushed them to Akhnoor Hospital.
“Fifty-seven injured were shifted to GMC-Jammu for advanced treatment,” BMO Akhnoor, Dr.Saleem, informed Rising Kashmir. He added, “Twelve injured passengers are undergoing treatment at Akhnoor hospital and are in stable condition.”
Among the deceased are eight males, eight females, and six children. The sleeper-class bus, bearing registration number UP81CT-4058, was carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to Shivkhori, a revered destination of Lord Shiva in Reasi District of Jammu region.
The accident occurred when the bus driver attempted to avoid a car while negotiating a sharp curve at TungiMorh near Kalidhar in Akhnoor, causing the bus to fall into the deep gorge.
The impact of the accident was so severe that twenty-two passengers died on the spot, while their distraught relatives, injured and in shock, were unable to identify the deceased.
The passengers were from Aligarh, Hathras, Mathura, Rajasthan, and other areas of Uttar Pradesh. The bus was heavily overloaded, carrying a total of ninety-one passengers.
The deceased have been identified as Lakshman Prasad, Rudra (son of Lakshman Prasad), Anamika (wife of Lakshman Prasad), Naina (daughter of Lakshman Prasad), Seema (wife of Samarjeet Singh), Ranvir Singh (Satwari family), Samarjeet (husband of Seema), Sonu (daughter of Subash), Sanjay, Renu (wife of Jagveer Singh), Tanuj (son of Sanjay), Suresh (grandfather of Tanuj), Dharamwati (wife of RadhyaShyam), Prachi (daughter of Jiten), and Jai Prakash (son of Buri Singh).
Among the critically injured, two people are receiving treatment at GMC-Jammu. “Two seriously injured are being treated in the ICU at GMC-Jammu,” Principal Dr.Ashutosh told Rising Kashmir. He added, “Fifty injured are stable, and eight are under observation.”
Despite repeated calls, officials from the traffic police did not respond regarding the overloading of the bus, which is believed to have contributed to the accident.
DM Jammu orders magisterial probe
A bus accident occurred near Akhnoor today, involving a bus carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh heading towards Shiv Khori.
District Magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya said that 22 persons have died in this mishap.Presently, 57 injured are under treatment at GMC Jammu and at SDH Akhnoor.
Furthermore, the District Magistrate has initiated a magisterial inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident. ADM Jammu shall submit a report within 7 days in this regard.
The district administration is closely monitoring the treatment of the injured and is in communication with the authorities of Hathras and Aligarh, the native places of the passengers.
