Srinagar, May 30: Chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday expressed profound grief over the tragic accident, in which at least 10 people lost their lives and as many as 57 were injured after a bus carrying Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims fell into a gorge near Jhajjar Kotli on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway early Tuesday morning.
In a condolence message, Azad said, “I send my heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved families and wish those injured a speedy recovery.”
Soon after learning about the accident near Katra in Reasi district, Azad asked party leaders and workers to visit the spot and provide all assistance to the injured and victims, a party statement issued here said.
“Pained to know about the loss of lives in Jhajjar Kotli, Jammu bus accident. I appeal to my party workers in the area to provide all possible assistance to the injured and families of those who have died. My thoughts are with families who lost loved ones and prayers for the speedy recovery of injured,” Azad said.
On the directions of Chairman DPAP, General Secretary R S Chib, chief spokesperson Salman Nizami, and District President Jammu (Urban) Gourav Chopra on Tuesday visited the injured in the hospital and extended every possible help. They also expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Azad also urged the government to provide all medical assistance to the injured and compensation to the kin of victims. He also demanded a proper probe into the regular accidents in Jammu province as reports of accidents are being received on a daily basis.
JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla on Tuesday said the death of pilgrims in a bus accident in Jammu was extremely unfortunate and offered his deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. He also wished speedy recovery to those injured.
Bhalla in a statement said despite being aware of the reasons, the administration is finding it difficult to prevent fatal road accidents particularly in hilly areas of the Jammu region as during the past three years there is a continuous rise in mishaps leading to the loss of precious lives.
“The government thinks that there will be a hue and cry for a day and it will dissipate eventually. It will not now. Look at the condition of the roads and how there is no check on the operators, drivers and conductors. How come even after the presence of strict traffic rules, as they claim, buses are overloaded? These are questions we want them to answer,” Bhalla asked.
He said all the concerned agencies are required to sit together and try to chalk out the strategy so that fatal accidents are prevented.
Apni Party on Tuesday expressed profound grief over the tragic accident, in which at least 10 people lost their lives and as many as 57 were injured after a bus carrying Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims fell into a gorge near Jhajjar Kotli on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway early Tuesday morning.
“It was an extremely unfortunate accident that killed at least 10 people and injured around 55 in Jhajjar Kotli, Jammu. No words are enough to console the inconsolable loss of the affected families, as nothing can ease the pain these families must be experiencing at this point in time. Apni Party stands in solidarity with the bereaved in this hour of grief. May Almighty give the grieving families, who lost their loved ones in this horrible accident, enough patience to cope with the pain,” the party said in a statement issued here.
While praying for the speedy recovery of those who were injured in the accident, Apni Party urged the administration to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured. The party also demanded ex gratia relief for the families of the deceased.
