- Wednesday, March 12, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
In a tragic incident, at least seven personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), India’s border-patrol organisation, were killed while more than 30 were injured on Tuesday (16) after the bus in which they were travelling fell into a river in Pahalgam area of Anantnag district of the northern union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The bus, belonging to Jammu and Kashmir Police, had 39 people on board, including 37 ITBP personnel and two policemen from J&K. It was reported that the vehicle skidded off the road at Zig Morh Frislan, Chandanwari, Pahalgam, and fell into the river.
At least 19 ambulances were deployed to the spot and local authorities, including officials from the police and state disaster response force, carried out a rescue operation.
#WATCH Bus carrying 37 ITBP personnel and two J&K Police personnel falls into riverbed in Pahalgam after its brakes reportedly failed, casualties feared#JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/r66lQztfKu
— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2022
“Seven of our jawans have lost their lives in the accident. Eight jawans with serious injuries have been airlifted to Srinagar for medical treatment, others are being treated at a hospital in Anantnag,” director general, ITBP, SL Thaosen said.
District collector, Anantnag, Piyush Singla said medical teams at Government Medical College Anantnag, district hospital Anantnag and SDH Seer, Anantnag, were put on high alert. Some of the injured were airlifted to Army Hospital in Srinagar, the capital.
The ITBP also set up a court of inquiry to probe into the accident.
Indian home minister Amit Shah condoled the loss of lives in the accident.
“Anguished to learn about the accident of a bus carrying ITBP and police personnel in Pahalgam, J&K. My prayers and thoughts are with the bereaved families. The injured were rushed to the hospital. May they recover at the earliest,” he said in a tweet.
Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha said, “Deeply anguished by the bus accident near Chandanwari in which we have lost our brave ITBP personnel. My condolences to bereaved families & prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. All possible assistance is being provided to the injured personnel.”
Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, tweeted, “Deeply pained to learn about the tragic accident in Pahalgam whereby our nation lost several brave ITBP jawans & police personnel. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of our jawans. Praying for the speedy recovery of those who were injured on duty.”
