7 ITBP personnel martyred, 32 injured as bus falls into gorge near Pahalgam

By admin On Aug 17, 2022

Prez, VP, Amit Shah, LG Sinha, Mamta, Omar express grief

STATE TIMES NEWS

Srinagar: Seven ITBP jawans got martyred and 32 security personnel were injured when the bus in which they were returning from Amarnath Yatra duty fell into a deep gorge apparently after a brake failure near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police bus, carrying 37 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel and two policemen, was on its way to the police control room here from Chandanwari when it met with the accident at around 9.40 am nearly six kilometres from Pahalgam.
Images from the accident site showed the badly mangled bus lying on the riverbed while rescuers looked for victims on the rocky terrain. Other security personnel in the convoy rushed immediately to help their colleagues after the bus rolled down about 60 metres. Locals and tourists in the area also assisted in the evacuation.

LG visits injured ITBP personnel, KP civilian in hospital
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday visited the army hospital here to inquire about the health of Pitambar Nath Pandit alias Pintu who was injured in the Shopian terror attack.
The Lt Governor asked about the well-being of Pandit and instructed the doctors to ensure he gets best possible medical care.
Sinha also visited ITBP personnel who were undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Thirty-two ITBP personnel had sustained injuries when their bus fell into a deep gorge in Chandanwari, while they were returning to the Police control room after performing Amarnath yatra duty. Seven other ITBP jawans died in the incident. “Visited Army hospital, Srinagar and met the injured ITBP Personnel. Gave necessary instructions to provide best of medical facilities,” Sinha tweeted.

While two ITBP personnel died on the spot, five others succumbed to their injuries later, the officials said.
They said it was a major accident and all the other jawans on the bus too have suffered injuries. The condition of eight of them is stated to be critical. They have been evacuated to Srinagar for specialised treatment.
The remaining injured are being treated at the Anantnag district hospital, the officials said.
Those who lost their lives on spot have been identified as HC/GD -Dula Singh; Ct/ Tele-Abhiraj Singh; Ct./GD-Subhash; Ct./ Cook -Amit Kumar; Ct./GD-Sandeep Kumar; Ct./GD-Dinesh Kumar Bora and Ct./GD-D Rajshekhar Reddi. Those who were injured and are admitted in BB. Cantt Army Hospital Srinagar include ASI/GD Nandan Singh; HC/GD Atar Singh; Ct./ GD Balwant Kumar; HC/GD Daya Ram; Ct./ GD Satish Tiwari; Ct./ GD Bablu Kumar; Ct./ GD Mantu Kumar; ASI/GD Khushal Singh; ASI/GD Inder Singh; ASI/GD Harish Kapari; HC/GD Yad Ram; Ct./GD Bhupender; HC/GD Kumar Nayak ; HC/GD Jitu Prasad; Ct./GD Dinesh Chand; Ct./Cook Nikhil Kumar; Inspr. /GD Rakesh Kumar; SI/GD Neel Kanth; Ct./GD Prem Singh; ASI/ GD Ramesh Ram; Ct./GD Govind Kumar; HC/GD Khair Nar Babu; HC/GD Hardik Merad; Ct./GD Ranjeet Boro; Ct./GD Khushpal Singh; ASI/Tele Mahesh Daggar; HC/GD Mohd Qayoom; Ct./GD Jeet Singh; Ct./SK Kaushik Roi ; Ct./GD Naresh Singh ; Ct./GD Dinesh Chand; Ct./ GD Tsering Dorje and SGCT Sheer Khan.
Besides, the above injured SgCt Sheer Khan of IRP 3rd Bn (driver of vehicle) who too was injured is also admitted in BB Cantt. Army Hospital Srinagar.
According to preliminary information, it appears that the brakes failed, but the exact reason will be known after an investigation, an ITBP spokesperson said in Delhi.
The area has treacherous winding roads and had been receiving rainfall, local residents said. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other leaders condoled the loss of lives in the accident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. “The tragic loss of precious lives of ITBP personnel in the unfortunate accident at Anantnag, J&K fills me with sadness. My heartfelt condolences for the bereaved families. I pray for speedy recovery of the injured,” Murmu tweeted. “Saddened by the loss of lives of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel in a bus accident … My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. My prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the Vice President’s Secretariat tweeted, quoting Dhankhar. J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives of the ITBP personnel in the unfortunate incident and extended his condolences to the members of bereaved families. “Deeply anguished by the bus accident near Chandanwari in which we have lost our brave ITBP personnel. My condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. All possible assistance is being provided to the injured personnel”, said the Lt Governor. Several Union ministers, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah also took to Twitter to express their condolences.
“… I send my condolences to the families & colleagues of the brave ITBP jawans killed in an accident in Pahalgam today. A number of ITBP personnel have been injured. I send my best wishes for their speedy & complete recovery,” Abdullah said.
“I’m deeply saddened by the tragic accident in J&K where 7 ITBP personnel lost lives. My heartfelt condolences to the family of the Bereaved. I stand with them in this hour of grief. We are taking care of the injured & wish for their speedy recovery,” Sujoy Lal Thaosen, Director General of ITBP, tweeted.