In Jammu and Kashmir, two people, including a five-year-old child and a 25-year-old woman, lost their lives, while 17 others were injured after a passenger bus skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge at Gulli Gala in the Pachiound area of Basantgarh tehsil in Udhampur district today.

 

Akashvani correspondent reports that the bus was travelling from Pachiound towards Ramnagar when the accident occurred. A total of 19 people initially sustained injuries, of whom two subsequently succumbed during treatment, leaving 17 injured survivors. Local residents were among the first to reach the accident site and launched rescue operations to evacuate passengers trapped inside the damaged vehicle. Personnel from Majodi Police Post subsequently joined the rescue efforts. 

 

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives in the tragic accident and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. 

 

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed deep sorrow over the incident 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 concerned authorities and closely monitoring the situation. 

 

Meanwhile, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh spoke to Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Ananth Dwivedi after receiving  news of the accident to review the situation and ongoing relief measures. He said all passengers were promptly evacuated following the timely intervention of local residents and assured that all necessary assistance was being provided. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident. Further details are awaited.