At least 22 pilgrims were killed and 57 others were injured after a overloaded bus carrying Lord Shiva’s devotees to holy cave shrine of Shiv Khori in Reasi district rolled down into a deep gorge at the Tangli morh in the Choki Chora belt of Akhnoor in Jammu district this afternoon.
“22 casualties and 57 others injured in the unfortunate accident near Akhnoor today,” Jammu Deputy Commissioner Sachin Kumar said while giving update relating to the fatal mishap.
Official sources told The Gaon Tribune that the bus rolled down into a deep gorge near Tangli Morh on Jammu-Poonch highway, resulting in death of 22 pilgrims and injuries to 57 other pilgrims.
He said that the injured have been shifted to sub district hospital Akhnoor, where from critically injured have been referred to GMC Jammu.
Shockingly, the overloaded bus carrying pilgrims beyond its sitting capacity went unnoticed and it was not stopped anywhere en-route before it met with a fatal mishap.
The administration is providing all possible assistance to the bereaved families and is also extending medical facilities to those who have been injured.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) May 30, 2024
Eyewitnesses claimed that the driver of the bus could not negotiate the sharp curve on the road that resulted in the fatal mishap. “There were 60-70 pilgrims travelling in the bus to the holy Shiv Khori cave shrine in Reasi district,” they said.
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A bus carrying passengers from Hathras, Uttar Pradesh has met with an accident near Tanda, Akhnoor in Jammu. Rescue operations are underway.
— District Magistrate, Jammu (@dmjammuofficial) May 30, 2024
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He added that the identities of the deceased and injured were being ascertained, while police have taken cognisance of the incident.
The district administration has issued helpline numbers for the families and relatives of the victims and injured in this fatal road mishap.
For help, assistance and queries regarding the Bus accident occurred near Akhnoor today, following numbers can be contacted: •DM Office 9622699666, 9419160547 •SP Office 9419172197, 9419194102, 9596869639 •Medical 9419190500, 9419190493
The Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha has expressed his deep anguish on the loss of lives in this tragic bus accident .
In a condolence message, the Lt Governor has 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 the 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”.
“A bus carrying passengers from Hathras, Uttar Pradesh has met with an accident near Tanda, Akhnoor in Jammu. Casualties feared; Rescue operations are underway,” District Magistrate Jammu said in a earlier post on ‘X’.
