Jammu: Two persons, including a minor girl, were killed and 15 others injured after a passenger bus veered off a hilly road and plunged into a deep gorge in a remote area in Udhampur district on Wednesday, officials said.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah voiced grief over the incident, and assured all necessary assistance to the victims and their families.
The bus was travelling from Pechound to Ramnagar and the accident occurred at Gulli Gala at around 8 am, the officials said, adding the bus was reduced to a mangled heap of iron.
Local village volunteers immediately launched a rescue operation following the accident and shifted 17 injured passengers to nearby Public Health Centre (PHC) Basantgarh.
After first aid, the injured were shifted to Ramnagar hospital, where a woman identified as Sunita Devi (24) and four-year-old Takshika succumbed to injuries, the officials said.
They said 11 of the injured were referred to the Udhampur district hospital for specialised treatment as condition of most of them was stated to be critical.
Senior BJP leader and MLA Sunil Bhardwaj visited the Ramnagar hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured passengers.
He voiced concern over the condition of the road where the accident occurred and emphasised the need for its upgradation to ensure safer travel for commuters. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening healthcare facilities in the constituency to ensure timely medical assistance and better treatment for people, particularly during emergencies.
Expressing grief over the incident, the LG said on X that he has directed the administration to provide all necessary assistance to the affected families and ensure the best possible treatment to those who have been injured in the accident.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also extended condolences to the bereaved families and directed the authorities to ensure the best possible medical care and assistance to the injured.
The Chief Minister’s Office is in constant touch with the authorities concerned and is closely monitoring the situation, an official press release said.
Earlier, Singh spoke to Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, Ananth Dwivedi, after receiving information about the accident.
“Unfortunately, two casualties have been reported (in the accident) …Meanwhile, I have taken up the issue of construction of Ramnagar to Basantgarh road with the BRO authorities at Delhi,” the minister said in a post on X.
