- Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Most of the passengers of the ill-fated bus were from the eastern state of Bihar who were visiting the shrine for an event, the PTI cited officials as saying.
By: Shubham Ghosh
At least 10 people were killed after an overcrowded bus carrying pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi shrine in the northern Indian Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir fell into a gorge after skidding off a bridge on Tuesday (30) morning.
Fifty five people were injured and were admitted to hospital and the condition of some of them was critical, police sources, who also confirmed the death toll, said.
Those devotees who were coming from Amritsar to visit Katra Mata Vaishno Devi, my tribute to the people killed in that bus accident and may God heal those who are injured as soon as possible. ?? @OfficeOfLGJandK @AvnyLavasa @MehboobaMufti pic.twitter.com/bU0YbkANOi
— DALIP BARU (@DALIPBARU3) May 30, 2023
The bus was going from Amritsar in the neighbouring state of Punjab and met with the accident on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Jhajjar Kotli area near Katra in Reasi district of the UT.
Katra, which is located about 2,500 feet above the sea level, is the base camp for Vaishno Devi pilgrims.
Most of the passengers of the ill-fated bus were from the eastern state of Bihar who were visiting the shrine for an event, the PTI cited officials as saying.
“Ten people died while 55 were injured. The injured have been evacuated to the hospital. Besides police and central forces, locals too helped in the rescue operation,” Chandan Kohli, senior superintendent of police, Jammu, said.
He said the vehicle was overcrowded and it will be part of the probe into the reason for the accident.
Dilbag Singh, director general of Jammu and Kashmir Police, said “overspeeding could be the reason behind the accident”.
President Droupadi Murmu condoled the deaths and wished speedy recovery to the injured.
जम्मू में हुई बस दुर्घटना में कई तीर्थयात्रियों की मृत्यु अत्यंत दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है। अपने प्रियजनों को खोने वाले परिवारों के प्रति मेरी गहरी शोक-संवेदनाएं। मैं घायल हुए लोगों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करती हूं।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) May 30, 2023
“The death of many pilgrims in the bus accident in Jammu is extremely unfortunate. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. I wish the injured people a speedy recovery,” she tweeted in Hindi.
