10 passengers from Bihar die in Jammu road accident, 55 injured
KASHMIR NEWS TRUST #KNT
At least 10 people from Bihar died while 55 other passengers sustained injuries when a Katra-bound bus rolled down a gorge on Jammu-Srinagar Highway near Jhajjar Kotli are of Jammu district.
Police confirmed that all the deceased were natives of the Indian state of Bihar.
The ill-fated bus was overcrowded carrying 75 passengers, police said.
Divulging information about the incident SSP Jammu, Chandan Kohli said that the bus, carrying 75 passengers, was on its way to Katra from Amritsar at the time of the accident.
He said the bus was overloaded and carrying more passengers than the limit prescribed. All the ten people who died are originally from Bihar.
“Ten people died and around 55 were injured. All have been evacuated. The rescue operation is almost complete. An SDRF team is also present on the spot. The bus was carrying more passengers than the prescribed limit and will be probed during the probe,” the SSP said.
Police stated the passengers who were on board the ill-fated bus were originally from Bihar. There was a ‘mundan’ ceremony for a child and all the near and dear ones of the family were accompanying them to Katra at the time of the accident.
After the ‘mundan’ ceremony, they were planning to undertake the yatra to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, they added.
Those injured were referred to a hospital in Jammu for treatment.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he was “extremely pained” to hear about the casualties in the accident. He said he directed the district administration to provide all necessary assistance to the injured.
“Extremely pained by the loss of lives in a tragic bus accident in Jhajjar Kotli, Jammu. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for a speedy recovery of the injured. Directed district administration to provide all possible assistance & treatment to the injured,” a tweet from the Office of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor read. [KNT]
