Jammu: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday visited the Government Medical College (GMC) in Udhampur, a day after a road accident in his constituency killed 21 persons and injured 51 others.
Accompanied by local BJP MLAs — Balwant Singh Mankotia, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Ranbir Singh Pathania and Sunil Bhardwaj – and Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa, Singh visited the intensive care units and orthopaedic wards, where he reviewed, the treatment being provided to the injured patients.
He met all the patients and assured them of all possible assistance.
At least 21 people were killed and 51 injured on Monday when an overcrowded passenger bus plunged nearly 100 metres down a hillside in Ramnagar area of Udhampur, crushing an auto-rickshaw before landing upside down on the road below.
The minister announced that a state-of-the-art critical care ambulance will be provided to Udhampur under the MPLAD fund. He said the ambulance will also be available for use by GMC, and will facilitate life-saving treatment during the transportation of patients.
Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office, lauded the swift response of all agencies involved.
He said the Army acted as the first responders and promptly reached the site to rescue the injured.
The minister said he personally began monitoring the situation within 20 minutes of the incident and remained in constant touch with the deputy commissioner to ensure timely coordination of relief efforts.
Describing the incident as “unforeseeable”, he said the injured were evacuated and shifted to nearby hospitals without delay, and a helicopter was pressed into service within half an hour.
He commended the prompt and coordinated efforts of the Army, medical fraternity, and district administration in managing the situation effectively.
Providing an update on the condition of the injured, Singh said that two patients have been referred to GMC, Jammu, while the condition of most patients undergoing treatment at GMC Udhampur is stable, except for a few who are under close observation.
The Command Hospital of the Army will conduct MRI scans of at least two patients with neurological issues, and further specialized intervention will be arranged if required, he said.
The minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced ex-gratia relief for the victims.
He noted the prime minister’s special affinity with the Udhampur region.
