Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Kishtwar road accident in which at least 35 persons died. “Saddened to hear about the tragic accident in Kishtwar. Deepest condolences to families of the bereaved,” Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.
Omar Abdullah in a tweet said: “Terrible news coming aboutthe high death toll in a bus accident in Kishtwar. Condolences to the familiesof the deceased and prayers for the swift recovery if the injured.”
Leader of Opposition in RajaySabha and former Chief MinisterGhulamNabi Azad said the news of bus accident in Kishtwar is extremelysaddening. “Condolence to the families of deceased. I wish the injured a speedyrecovery,” he tweeted.
People’s Conference leader and former minister Sajad Lonetweeted, “Tragic news coming in from Kishtwar. Dozens may have lost their livesin a road accident. My heartfelt condolences.”
SEPARATISTS SADDENED
All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Geelaniexpressing shock over the tragic road accident said “the highway runningthrough the mountainous Chenab region has been left unattended by theauthorities.”
“Statistics of these killer roads are alarming and exposesthe tall claims of the development,” Geelani in a statement said.
The Hurriyat leader said that government very “cleverlymaintains and repairs only those roads which are used by its armed forces. Theyare least bothered about the miseries and hardships of people.”
Condoling the bereaved families, the Hurriyat chairmanprayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and courage to the bereavedto bear this irreparable human loss.
Expressing deep grief and sorrow over yet another tragicroad accident in Kishtwar district, APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq extendedheartfelt condolence to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedyrecovery of the injured.
Mirwaiz in a statement said this incident occurred barely afew days after the Mughal Road accident in which about a dozen school childrendied and many others sustained grave injuries.
He said the growing road accidents that take toll on humanlives, was a cause of concern. “It is because of the dilapidated roadconditions, rash driving and overloading that road accident are showing a steeprise across the state,” the statement said.
Taking a dig at the state administration for resorting to”lip servicing” and confining itself to expressing condolences only, Mirwaizsaid it seems there is no check by the administration on rash driving, overspeeding, overloading and travel on crucial roads without proper travelpermits.
He said despite tall claims, major and crucial roads acrossthe state remain in a shambles, as a result of which they become death trapswhich is highly unfortunate.
Mirwaiz demanded impartial probe into the Kishtwar incidentso that reasons that led to the major accident comes to fore and those foundinvolved in any lapses are punished to prevent such in incidents in the future.
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) Chairman Mohammad Ashraf Sehraiexpressed shock and grief over the devastating Kishtwar road accident.
He said it is painful to see that road accidents arehappening on alarming rate and it seems to be a routine now as theadministration and department concerned are in deep slumber and not taking roadand passenger safety measures swiftly, a spokesman of TeH in a statement to KNSsaid.
Sehrai expressed sympathies and solidarity with the familieswhose loved ones were killed in a tragic road accident and shared his thoughts andprayers with the bereaved families. He also prayed for the speedy recovery ofthose who are injured.