PM, Guv, CM condole loss of lives
STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: At least 21 people were killed and 24 others injured on Thursday when a bus they were travelling in skidded off the road and rolled into a deep gorge in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The bus turned turtle and fell into a deep gorge resulting in the death of 21 passengers, Tahir Sajad Bhat, SSP Reasi said.
“21 persons have been killed and 24 others injured when a bus carrying 45 passengers that was on its way to Buckle from Reasi met with an accident near Reasi here on Thursday,” Bhat said.
“The people who were seriously injured were airlifted to Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment,” he said.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed grief over the loss of lives in the road accident. She issued directions for giving best possible treatment to the injured.
Mufti asked the divisional and the district administration to speed up the rescue operation in the area and ensure timely evacuation of the injured to the hospitals.
Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, has released an immediate cash relief of Rs 10,000 each to the next of kin of those killed and Rs 5,000 each to the injured.
Police said some of the injured persons are in critical conditions.
The 21 deceased were identified as Jameet Singh (46) son of Prem Singh resident of Sarote Kote, Rohit Kumar (18) son of Charan Dass resident of Vijaypur, Sonakhsi Sharma (2) daughter of Vijay Kumar resident of Rakkal, Raj Kumari (39) wife of Kashmir Singh resident of Surjan Dhar, Shakumtala Devi (49) wife of Paras Ram resident of Rakkal, Vashnu Devi (50) wife of Bodh Raj resident of Semagha, Neera Devi (35) wife of Santhokh Singh resident of Sarsundwan Ward No 02, Mast Ram (40) son of Basantu resident of Sersundhwan, Prem Lata (36) wife of Bishen Singh resident of Sersundhwan, Neelam Devi (40) wife of Des Raj resident of Sersundhwan, Satya Devi (36) wife of Angrej Singh resident of Sersundhwan, Kaku Ram (63) son of Bakku resident of Sari, Khem Raj (23) son of Madan Lal resident of Sersundhwan, Sumatri Devi (57) wife of Ram Nath resident of Kotli Lagpat Sujandhar, Shushma Devi (40) wife of Madan Lal resident of Sersundhwan, Prem Nath (60) son of Sheru resident of Sermagha, Atma Ram (56) son of Gopi Chand resident of Sersundhwan, Rumal Singh (47) son of Amru resident of Smakh Sutyan Dhar, Shiv Singh (50) son of Amru resident of Smakh-Sutyandhar, Reeta Devi (25) wife of Satpal resident of Kothri Tote and Faro Devi (40) wife of Kaku Ram resident of Sutyandhar.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor N.N Vohra, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh have expressed grief over the tragic loss of innocent lives in a bus accident, on the Reasi- Bakal road.
“My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate accident in Reasi, J&K. Prayers with the injured,” PM tweeted.
In a condolence message the Governor has conveyed his sympathies to the members of the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls. He has wished speedy recovery to the persons injured in this accident.
Raj Bhavan Spokesperson recalled that the Governor has been re-iterating his serious concern that the regulatory authorities, particularly the Traffic Police, have yet to take adequately deterring measures to ensure against operation of old and technically unfit vehicles, inadequately trained drivers, overloading of passenger carrying vehicles, over-speeding on narrow and poorly maintained roads etc. He stated that the Governor was addressing the Chief Minister in this matter.
Extending heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in the tragic accident, the Chief Minister prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls.
Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice, Abdul Haq has expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in a tragic road accident in district Reasi.
The minister also expressed grief over the loss of lives in accidents at Uri and Anantnag on Thursday.
In a condolence message, the Deputy Chief Minister while expressing shock over the loss of lives, conveyed his sympathies to the members of the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls. He wished speedy recovery to the persons injured in this mishap.
The Deputy Chief Minister visited Government Medical College Jammu and enquired about the condition of the people who had got injured in the accident.
He directed the doctors and administration of the GMC Jammu to provide every sort of medical assistance to the injured. He said necessary instructions have been passed to ensure that every possible medicare facility is provided to them and adequate compensation is provided to the families of persons who died in the accident.
Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh expressed grief over the death in the Reasi bus accident.
Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed his deep anguish and grief on this tragic accident.
“I have repeatedly been expressing my concern on the deteriorating traffic management on hilly terrain of Jammu and Kashmir and particularly the Jammu region. This has resulted in many fatal accidents, claiming scores of precious human lives. My heart goes out for those who lost their loved ones,” said Azad.
Azad expressed his deep condolences and urged upon the State Government to provide adequate medical help to those injured in this accident. He also expected that adequate measures will be taken while managing traffic on this fatal route.
Expressing deep sorrow and anguish over the tragic accident in district Reasi, JKPCC Chief G.A Mir termed this incident as highly painful, shocking, unfortunate and condoled the loss of lives.
PCC Chief said the loss of precious lives has left him dismayed enough. He said his heart goes out for those who lost their lives in this tragic accident.
While offering condolences to bereaved families PCC Chief sympathised with them and prayed for their courage to bear this irreparable loss.
He prayed for eternal peace to departed souls.
The Leader of Congress Legislature in State Legislative Council MLC Jugal Kishore Sharma demanded grant of adequate ex-gratia relief to the families of the victims.
Jugal conveyed his heart felt sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of those injured in the accident.
Jugal demanded adequate ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of the deceased while he also sought financial assistance and free medical treatment to those who were critically wounded in the mishap.
Senior Congress leader also demanded to conduct an impartial inquiry in order to ascertain the exact cause of the accident adding that if any negligence on part of driver is found then strict action should be initiated against him.
National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday expressed shock and grief over the tragic road accident in Reasi and conveyed his condolences to those who have lost their dear ones in the mishap.
Provincial President Jammu, Devender Singh Rana and District President National Conference, Jagjeevan Lal also expressed deep grief over the death of several passengers in the mishap.
Praying for peace to the departed souls, Jagjeevan Lal sought immediate ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of those dead and free treatment to the injured. He prayed for immediate recovery of the injured.
Jagjeevan Lal conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
Even beds were not provided to injured
JAMMU: On Thursday afternoon, when an overcrowded passenger bus met with an accident killing 21 passengers and leaving more than 24 others injured the working of the district hospital Reasi was totally exposed as the hospital administration failed to cater to the needs of the victims.
Both Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her deputy in command Prof Nirmal Singh expressed deep shock and grief over the tragic accident and directed the Government agencies to provide best possible care to the injured.
On ground zero, MoS Finance and Planning, who is also the local MLA from Reasi Ajay Nanda rushed to the spot and mobilised the entire Government machinery.
Ironically, when critically injured passengers were wheeled inside the hospital, the injured patients were adjusted in the open verandah of the OPD block.
The entrance of the OPD block was converted into make shift emergency ward.
In the absence of beds, several mattresses were placed on the floor by the alert hospital authorities to provide healing touch to the patients.The nursing staff and senior doctors were seen rubbing shoulders with each other to find adequate space to treat the patients and clean their wounds.
Confusion prevailed everywhere in the corridor as hospital staff worked to give first aid to the seriously injured passengers.
In the absence of blood bank and CT scan facilities, the hospital authorities referred maximum patients to Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu.
When helicopter was made available to the patients, MoS Finance Ajay Nanda ensured to click his pictures standing in front of the helicopter and posted the same on his facebook page sharing his grief and sorrow with the families of victims of fatal bus accident. Interacting with the media persons, he confirmed 21 passengers were killed in the bus accident while large numbers of injured passengers were shifted to Jammu in different ambulances arranged from NHPC, army authorities and Katra hospital. Recently when Health Minister Bali Bhagat had visited Reasi district hospital he had announced that the hospital would soon get blood bank facility and CT scan machine for improving the medical care facilities.
3 killed, 16 injured as another bus rolls down
RAJOURI: Three passengers were killed and 16 others injured when a mini bus (Canter) on its way from Jamola to Rajouri rolled down near village Bendi on Rajouri – Jamola Road on Thursday. All the victims were immediately shifted to District Hospital Rajouri but three of them were declared by the doctors as brought dead.
Those killed have been identified as Aditya Sharma and Shivanesh Sharma both sons of Kuldeep Raj resident of Dani Dhar, Rajouri and their mother Richa Kumari alias Nancy. Their bodies were handed over to their family members after autopsy.
Those injured include Taro Devi wife of Bal Krishan, Fatima Bi wife of Shah Jahan, Kalsoom Akhtar wife of Mohd Taj, Nusrat wife of Ajaz, Kaleem Akhtar wife of Mohd Rayaz, Kashmira Wanti wife of Punjab Singh, Rubina Kouser wife of Imtyaz, Tanveer Ahmed son of Mohd Bashir, Jasveer Singh son of Angrez Singh, Kolesh Devi wife of Krishan Lal, Raj Kumari wife of Raja Ram, Chanchal Kumari wife of Jagdish Lal, Dr Heena Shaheen wife of Abdul Wani, Mohd Zabeer son of Mohd Afzal, Neter Devi wife of Sham Lal and Sushma Devi wife of Romesh Chand.
The Rajouri Police have seized the bus bearing registration No JK11-2621 and registered a case for investigation.
