Yatri bus from UP met tragic mishap on Jammu-Poonch Highway: 22 killed, 57 injured. Six children & 8 women among 22 killed. PM announces Rs 2 lakh for deceased & Rs 50000 for injured

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SHYAM SOOD

Six children & 8 women among 22 killed.
PM announces Rs 2 lakh for deceased & Rs 50000 for injured
Lt Governor announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for deceased & Rs 50000 for injured.
Driver might not have estimated the road curve properly: SSP Traffic.
DM Jammu initiates Magistral inquiry.

RAJOURI, MAY 30 :– In a devastating road mishap on Jammu-Poonch highway 144A, 22 pilgrims of Shiv Khori from Uttar Pradesh lost their lives while 57 others–several among them critically– injured and are under treatment in Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu and Sub District Hospital at Akhnoor.
The deceased include six children and eight women.
In a message (PMO India) on ‘X’ PM Narendra Modi said: “Anguished by the loss of lives due to bus mishap in Akhnoor. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover soon.
PM Modi has also announced Rs 2 lakh to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50000 to the injured.
Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has described the incident as heart rending & condoled the loss of lives and prayed to Almighty to give the bereaved families the strength to bear the irreparable loss. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
A post of Office of LG J&K on ‘X’ read: “Administration is providing all possible assistance to the bereaved families and is also extending medical facilities to those who have been injured.”
Another post on ‘X’ read: “an Ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to be given to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the tragic bus accident in Akhnoor-Jammu”.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate Jammu, Sachin Kumar Vaishya said that 22 persons have died in this mishap. While 57 (presently) injured are under treatment at GMC Jammu and at SDH Akhnoor.
He has initiated a Magisterial inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident by Additional DM Jammu who will submit a report within 7 days.
Meanwhile Jammu police have released 24X7-helpline numbers–0191-2542000 & 8899334482—for information regarding bus accident victims from Kurukshetra (Haryana).
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar and Additional DGP Jammu, Anand Jain visited GMC Jammu to enquire about the health of the injured and about medical facilities to them.
Sources said that the pilgrims were on their way to Shiv Khori Temple in Reasi district from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh.
When reached near Chungi Morh, under the jurisdiction of Chowki-Choura Police Post (Police station Akhnoor) the driver lost control over the bus in the afternoon on Thursday and it rolled down into about 200feet deep gorge on under-widening Jammu-Poonch highway.
Initially the locals of the area started the rescue operation despite the odd situation and tough terrain and were later joined by the police and the army.
Army deployed cranes and other machinery to bring the injured on the highway for further rescue to hospitals.
Jammu district administration is closely monitoring the treatment of the injured and is in communication with the authorities of Hathras and Aligarh, the native places of the passengers.
SSP Traffic Jammu, Faisal Qureshi, who reached the accident site supervised the rescue operation of the injured, when asked by the reporters said: “ The driver of the bus might not have estimated the road curve properly”.