JK Governor, CM, Azad expresses grief over loss of lives in Panthal road accident.
Deputy CM announces ex-gratia, orders enquiry
Jammu, June 24 – Twenty six people were killed and 53 others were injured on Wednesday morning when a passenger bus skidded off the road at Panthal on Udhampur –Reasi road, about 55 kms from winter capital Jammu, in Jammu and Kashmir.
Police sources said, the overcrowded bus, with some passengers also sitting on its roof and hanging with its ladder, was on its way from Reasi to Udhampur when it rolled down into a deep gorge at Panthal in Reasi district at 0710 a.m.
Most of the victims were locals including some government employees on way to their office in Udhampur.
"Twenty-six passengers, including women, have lost their lives in the accident while 53 were injured," police said. Out of the 53 injured, 33 have been shifted to GMC Jammu, 5 each to Command Hospital Udhampur and sub-district hospital Katra and one to DH Udhampur.
Locals rushed to the spot to rescue the victims while police was also informed about the incident. Nearby army unit also joined police and public in the rescue operation.
“The driver had lost control of the bus while negotiating a curve and the vehicle rolled down into a gorge”, said an eyewitness.
Seventeen out of 26 dead bodies have been identified and out of 8 un-identified dead bodies, 4 are males, 2 females and 2 children.
Meanwhile JK Governor, CM, Azad expresses grief over loss of lives in Panthal road accident.
Governor, N. N. Vohra, has expressed profound shock and grief over the loss of precious human lives in a tragic road accident near Panthal in Reasi district today.
The Governor expressed his sympathy with the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in this accident.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the loss of precious human lives in a tragic road accident near Panthal, in Reasi district today.
The Chief Minister expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of those injured in the accident. He issued instructions to the Health Department to take all measures for providing specialized medicare facilities to them.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad has expressed shock and grief over the loss of precious lives in a tragic road accident near Panthal, in Reasi district today.
In a condolence message, Mr. Azad expressed sympathy with the families who lost their dear ones and prayed for early recovery of those injured in the accident, who have been shifted to various hospitals for treatment. He asked the Health Department to take all possible measures for providing special medicare facilities to the injured.
Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Minister for Industries and Commerce S. S. Slathia, Member Parliament Ch. Lal Singh, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal, District Development Commissioner Reasi Sanjeev Verma, MLA Reasi Baldev Sharma, Additional CEO SMVDSB Manoj Diwedi, SSP Reasi Anand Jain and other officers visited the spot and supervised the rescue operations. An ex-gratia of Rs. 25,000/ each has been sanctioned to the next of kins of all 25 deceased persons and Rs. 5000/- each to all the injured persons out of Chief Minister’s relief fund.
Tara Chand alongwith others visited sub- district hospital Katra hospital and enquired about the treatment being extended to injured persons admitted in the hospital. He also issued instructions to provide the requisite medicare facilities to the injured. He also assured that medical officers shall be posted at the earliest.
Deputy Chief Minister issued instructions to DDC Reasi and DCC Jammu to disburse the amount of ex-gratia to the concerned. He also orders an enquiry into the accident that led to loss of 25 precious human lives. He said that government is contemplating to add a fleet of 30 buses to SRTC to cater the needs of hilly areas. He also issued instructions to the transport authorities to implement Motor Vehicles Act strictly and curb use of mobile phones while driving.