Thirteen persons were killed and 15 others injured, eight of them critically, when a bus fell into a gorge along the Loran-Mandi road in Poonch district on Saturday morning.
The bus, which was on way to Poonch from far-flung Loran village, rolled several metres into a gorge at Palera Kallar after the driver lost control over it, an official said.
He said six of the passengers died on the spot. The injured were shifted to the sub-district hospital Mandi by the local people in private vehicles and motorcycles.
Six more passengers succumbed to their injuries at the sub-district hospital Mandi during treatment while the driver died at Poonch district hospital where he was taken for treatment.
Five of the injured people are being treated at district hospital Poonch.
Six of the eight critically injured persons were flown in a chopper, and two others in a vehicle, to the Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu, said deputy commissioner Poonch Rahul Yadav.
DECEASED
The deceased are: Ajaz Ahmed (32), Afia Parveen (2), Parveen Akhter (35), Wali Mohammad (72), Ghulam Hussain (52), Bashir Ahmed (38), Sharifa Bi (40), Nazia Akhter (17), Gulshan Akhter (21), Muhammad Yousuf (26), Bashir Ahmed (50), Isam Jaan (35) and Jahangir Ahmed (35).
INJURED
The injured are: Rubina Koser (12), Muhammad Ayaz (13), Parveen Akhter (20), Makhsoom Hussain (35), Muhammad Rashid (50), Abdul Rashid (45), Naseem Akhter (30), Muhammad Zahid (28), Mukhtyar Hussain (30), Taj Muhammad (60), Muhammad Ramzan (60), Parvinder Singh (30), Muhammad Rashid (55) and Muhammad Yasar (10).
ALTAF BUKHARI CALLS FOR MEASURES TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS
Senior PDP leader Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari expressed shock and grief over the loss of lives in the accident. Expressing concern over an alarming increase in road accidents, especially in mountainous regions of the state, Bukhari urged the authorities to go tough against the traffic violators so that such accidents can be prevented.
Referring to a research conducted by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on increasing road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir, Bukhari said lack of education, enforcement, engineering and emergency services have been found to be the main reasons for rising number of accidents in the state.
“Despite set standard rules and instructions for vehicle drivers about how to drive safely in mountainous regions, it has been found drivers unfortunately do not follow the road safety rules ,” he said.
He urged the governor-led administration to constitute more special checking squads especially in mountainous regions of the state.
“I pray for the eternal peace to the departed souls and speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries in this tragic road accident. May Almighty Allah give courage to the bereaved families to face this huge tragedy,” Bukhari said in his condolence message.
CAUSES OF FREQUENT ACCIDENTS SHOULD BE ASCERTAINED: FAROOQ
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and vice-president Omar Abdullah on Saturday expressed sorrow over the deaths.
In a statement, Farooq said, “It is alarming how such accidents have become a routine in the state. I convey my heartfelt sympathies to the families of those killed in the accident.”
“The cause of the fateful accident should be ascertained. The incumbent government needs to devise a strategy to reduce these tragedies,” he said.
Omar, while expressing concern over the recurrence of such fatal accidents in the Chenab valley and Pirpanchal areas, said, “The incumbent administration should do an appraisal of the factors concerning passenger safety in these areas which are mostly hilly. It is heart wrenching to hear about such deadly incidents happening time and again. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.
NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, provincial president Jammu Devender Singh Rana, YNC Provincial president Ajaz Jan, senior leaders Sajad Ahmad Kichloo, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy, Javaid Rana also expressed sympathies with the bereaved families.