राजनीति

10 killed, 55 injured as Katra-bound bus rolls down gorge on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway

Ten people were killed while around 55 others were injured after a bus fell into a gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Jhajjar Kotli on Tuesday. The bus, carrying 75 passengers, was on its way to Katra from Amritsar at the time of the accident.

Jammu SSP Chandan Kohli said the bus was overloaded and carrying more passengers than the limit prescribed. All the ten people who died are originally from Bihar, police said.

"Ten people died and around 55 were injured. All have been evacuated. The rescue operation is almost complete. An SDRF team is also present on the spot. The bus was carrying more passengers than the prescribed limit and will be probed during the probe," the SSP said.

Police stated the passengers who were on board the ill-fated bus were originally from Bihar. There was a 'mundan' ceremony for a child and all the near and dear ones of the family were accompanying them to Katra at the time of the accident.

After the 'mundan' ceremony, they were planning to undertake the yatra to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, they added.

Those injured were referred to a hospital in Jammu for treatment.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he was "extremely pained" to hear about the casualties in the accident. He said he directed the district administration to provide all necessary assistance to the injured.

"Extremely pained by the loss of lives in a tragic bus accident in Jhajjar Kotli, Jammu. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for a speedy recovery of the injured. Directed district administration to provide all possible assistance & treatment to the injured," a tweet from the Office of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor read.

This incident came a day after a district on Monday. Eight people, including six women and two minors, were killed and 26 others were injured in the accident, as per a PTI report.

The incident occurred in the evening when the victims were returning from a religious program held at Mansa Mata temple. It took place approximately one kilometre away from the temple

According to the police, the driver appeared to have lost control of the tractor-trolley, resulting in a collision with a pole and the subsequent fall into a gorge.

Officials were conducting a search operation at the accident site in hopes of finding any survivors. State Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha promptly arrived at the CHC in Udaipurwati to inquire about the incident from officials and locals.