In Jammu and Kashmir, at least 21 people were killed and 29 others injured when a passenger bus rolled down a hill in Udhampur district today. Akashvani Jammu Correspondent reports that the bus met with the accident on the hilly road while negotiating a blind curve near Kagort village in the Ram Nagar area around 10 AM.
The bus was carrying 50 passengers, mostly those heading to their daily jobs, from Ramnagar to Udhampur. Several persons were shifted to the hospital from the scene, and their condition is stated to be critical, while two critically injured persons were airlifted to GMC, Jammu, for advanced treatment. The ill-fated bus was on its way to Udhampur from a remote village when the accident took place.
President Droupadi Murmu, PM Narendra Modi, LG Manoj Sinha, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, CM Omar Abdullah, Dy CM Surinder Choudhary and Ministers have expressed grief at the loss of lives in the bus accident. The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those killed and Rs 50 thousand for those injured in the accident.
Whereas Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced immediate relief from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for victims of the Udhampur road accident. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased, Rs. 1 lakh to those seriously injured, and Rs. 25 thousand to persons who sustained minor injuries in the accident.
The Chief Minister said that no amount of financial assistance can compensate for the irreparable loss of lives in the tragic incident, but the relief is being extended as an immediate measure to support the affected families. He reiterated that the government stands firmly with the victims and assured all possible assistance.