Jammu: At least 22 people were killed and 53 injured after a bus carrying pilgrims skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge in Jammu district on Thursday, officials said.
The accident took place at the Tungi-Morh in the Chowki Chora belt of the district, the officials said, adding that the bus rolled around 150 feet down into the gorge.
A magisterial probe has been ordered into the incident, the Jammu district magistrate informed on X. He also said 22 people have lost their lives and 53 sustained injuries in the tragedy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of the deceased saying he is anguished by the loss of lives due to the accident. In a social media post, the Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees to the next of kin of each deceased and 50 thousand rupees to the injured.
Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha has expressed anguish at the loss of lives in the accident and announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the tragic bus accident.
The accident took place at the Tungi-Morh in the Chowki Chora belt of the district, the officials said, adding that the bus, which was carrying 75 passengers, rolled around 150 feet down into the gorge.
A police spokesperson said at about 12:35 pm, the bus bearing registration number UP81CT-4058 fell into the gorge.
The bus was carrying devotees from Haryana’s Kurukshetra and was headed towards Shiv Khori in the Pouni area of Reasi district. It had started its journey from Uttar Pradesh.
The bodies have been shifted to the Akhnoor sub-district hospital, the police spokesperson said, adding that the injured have been taken to the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Jammu.
Most of the victims are from UP, officials said.
The Army, police and locals used ropes and made human chains to carry the bodies and the injured people uphill.
The Army used cranes to pull the bus out of the gorge and the operation is still on, the officials said.
The injured, including six in critical condition, were initially taken to the Akhnoor hospital for treatment. Subsequently, they were shifted to the GMC hospital in Jammu in ambulances, the officials said.
“More than 36 passengers have been brought to the GMC hospital. Six of them are in a critical condition. Timely treatment is being given to the patients,” the principal of the hospital Dr Ashutosh Gupta said.
The injured passengers said the accident took place when the driver was negotiating a blind curve and a speeding car was coming from the opposite direction.
“A car was coming from the opposite direction. The driver tried to negotiate a blind curve but failed, resulting in the vehicle rolling down the gorge,” Amar Chand, one of the injured people undergoing treatment at the hospital, said.
Those who sustained injuries in the incident said they had come for a pilgrimage to Shiv Khori.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Faisal Qureshi, the Transport Commissioner, along with other officials, visited the spot and supervised the operation.
The SSP said it seems there was no overloading of passengers in the bus.
Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, SSP-Jammu and the Deputy Commissioner of Jammu visited the GMC hospital to inquire about the injured.
The LG has expressed anguish at the loss of lives in the accident.
In a condolence message, Sinha said, “The bus accident in Akhnoor is heart-rending. I condole the loss of lives and pray to the almighty to give the bereaved families the strength to bear the irreparable loss. Praying for a speedy recovery of the injured. The administration is providing all possible assistance to the bereaved families and is also extending medical facilities to those who have been injured.
“An ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to be given to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the tragic bus accident.”
This is the biggest accident in the region after a similar incident in Doda on November 15, 2023, in which 39 people were killed and 19 injured when a bus carrying passengers skidded off the road and rolled down into a 300-foot gorge in the Trungal-Assar area of the district.
On March 29, 10 people were killed after a sports utility vehicle (SUV) skidded off the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and fell into a gorge in the Battery Cheshma area of Ramban district.
On July 1, 2019, 35 people were killed and 17 injured when an overloaded mini-bus veered off the road and fell into a gorge in Kishtwar’s Sangwari area.
On September 14, 2018, 17 passengers were killed and 16 injured when a mini-bus skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in the Dandaran area of Kishtwar.
Meanwhile. President Droupadi Murmu expressed grief over the incident. “Pained beyond words to learn about the loss of lives in a bus accident in Akhnoor near Jammu. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery of the injured,” she said in a post on X.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar said he is deeply saddened to learn about the tragic bus accident. He further extended heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and also prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of the deceased saying he is anguished by the loss of lives due to the accident. In a social media post, the Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees to the next of kin of each deceased and 50 thousand rupees to the injured.
Almost all local political parties expressed grief and extended condolences to the families of the victims and injured.
Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman, Sjad Gani Lone in a post also expressed grief over the loss of lives. “Heartbroken by the tragic bus accident in Akhnoor, Jammu. The loss of 21 precious lives and injuries to 69 others is deeply sorrowful. My heartfelt condolences to the grieving families. In this hour of immense pain, we stand together in solidarity and prayer. May the departed rest in eternal peace and the injured find strength and swift recovery,” Lone wrote on X.
CPI (M) senior leader and former Kulgam legislator, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami also expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured persons.
National Conference President and Member of the Parliament from Srinagar Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah expressed profound grief over the loss of lives.
Expressing grief over the accident, Dr. Farooq said, “I am pained beyond words to know about the loss of lives in a bus accident in Akhnoor near Jammu. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery of the injured. The administration should provide all possible assistance to the bereaved families besides extending medical facilities to those who are injured.”
Expressing anguish over the accident, Omar said, “The tragic bus accident in Akhnoor, Jammu, is heart wrenching. I am deeply moved by the loss of lives in the mishap and pray for fortitude to the grief stricken families. I also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. I also impress upon the local administration to reach out to the affected with relief and compensation.”
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief and former chief minister of erstwhile J&K state, Mehbooba Mufti in a post on X also expressed grief over the loss of lives.
“Terrible news coming in from Akhnoor where sixteen people have died in a tragic bus accident. Deepest sympathies & condolences to their families and loved ones,” she wrote.
Former chief minister and DPAP chief, Ghulam Nabi Azad wrote that overloading and rash driving must be addressed to prevent such accidents.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic bus accident in Akhnoor, Jammu that claimed 21 lives and injured 69. My condolences to the families. Urge the government for immediate compensation and best treatment for the injured. Overloading and rash driving must be addressed to prevent such accidents!,” Azad wrote on X.
Former minister and Apni Party president, Syed Altaf Bukhari in a post expressed condolence with the bereaved families.
“Heartbreaking to hear about the fatal road accident, claiming the lives of more than twenty persons in Chungi Morh Akhnoor on Jammu-Poonch National Highway. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in this tragic accident. May the bereaved families, alongside every other affected by this tragedy, find patience and strength in this hour of utter grief. Urge the authorities concerned to ensure best possible treatment to those injured in the incident,” he wrote.
