STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: Six transport department officials in Jammu and Kashmir were suspended for alleged dereliction of duty on Friday, a day after 22 people were killed and 64 injured in a bus accident in Jammu district.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday, when the bus carrying 86 devotees from Haryana’s Kurukshetra and heading towards the Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi district skidded off the Jammu-Poonch highway and plunged into a 150-foot gorge. The driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a blind curve at the Tungi morh in the Chowki Chora area.
Stern action against those found responsible for accident: CS
Jammu: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday said that stern action would be taken against those responsible for the accident that claimed 22 lives and injured 70 others. Dulloo, who flew from summer capital Srinagar, visited the injured at the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Jammu this evening to review their treatment and enquired about their well-being.
“We have launched an inquiry to identify those responsible. Once the report comes to us, stern action will be taken,” Dulloo told reporters after interacting with the injured.
Dulloo, who was flanked by senior administration and police officers, stressed that negligence was not one-sided, citing the overloaded bus and the responsibility of the passengers, driver and the authorities in various states the bus passed through.
“It is not one-sided negligence. That is not the case. First of all, the passengers, who travelled in this 55 seater bus, should have been responsible. The driver, who overloaded the bus, is also responsible. The vehicle passed through several states before reaching Jammu and Kashmir. Those people including their police force too are responsible,” he said.
Dulloo said that it was the responsibility of some people here too and added an inquiry for that has been ordered and punishment will be awarded to those responsible.
The Chief Secretary maintained that best possible treatment will be given to the injured for speedy recovery.
“This unfortunate accident resulted in the loss of 22 lives and injuries to nearly 70 people. Our visit to the GMC hospital was to ensure the best possible treatment and welfare of the injured,” he said.
He said the government is committed to providing the best care, with the entire administration working to save lives.
Dulloo also said that the bodies of the deceased would be sent back to their native places.
On the condition of the injured admitted to the GMC hospital here, he said, “Currently, nearly 70 people are admitted to the hospital, with two of them being under monitor. The rest are stable and recovering.”
According to an official statement, the Chief Secretary termed the incident as tragic and unfortunate and directed the hospital authorities to ensure best medicare for the injured for their speedy recovery.
He prayed for those who lost their lives in the road mishap. He extended heartfelt condolences to their families saying that the government would extend all necessary facilities to the accident victims. He assured that best medical care would be provided to the injured. The Chief Secretary directed the administration to enquire into the causes of the road accident so that such incidents are avoided in future.
Pertinent to mention here that a bus carrying pilgrims to Shiv Khori Shrine met an accident here in Akhnoor area killing 22 passengers and injuring many others.
The local administration immediately came into action and carried out rescue operation. All the bodies were recovered and injured were taken to GMC Jammu for treatment.
Transport Department Secretary Niraj Kumar ordered the suspensions and a probe after a high-level meeting was chaired by Principal Secretary of the Home department Chandraker Bharti.
“Pending enquiry into the conduct and dereliction of duties, officials posted in the Regional Transport Office in Kathua (Lakhanpur) are placed under suspension with immediate effect and are attached in the office of Transport Commissioner, Jammu,” Kumar said in an order.
The suspended officials are Ranjeev Bhasin (Motor Vehicle Inspector), Sumit Magotra (Junior Assistant) and multi-tasking staff (MTS) members Ashwani Kumar, Aman Kumar, Keshav Singh and Rakesh Kumar.
An inquiry into the conduct and performance of the suspended officials will be led by Additional Secretary (Technical) Paramvir Singh, who will submit a report with recommendations within a week, Kumar said.
The officials have been attached to the transport commissioner’s office in Jammu, pending the outcome of the enquiry.
The Jammu district magistrate has already initiated a magisterial inquiry into the incident and the report is expected within seven days.
The district administration is closely monitoring the treatment of those injured in the accident, besides communicating with authorities in the passengers’ home regions of Hathras and Aligarh and in Uttar Pradesh.
Deputy Commissioner of Jammu Sachin Kumar said the treatment of the injured is going on at the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital.
The Jammu administration announced on Thursday that it has set up a 24-hour helpline to provide information and assistance to the relatives of the victims.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to those injured.
According to some injured passengers, the accident occurred when the driver was negotiating a blind curve and a speeding car was approaching from the opposite direction. However, some passengers have blamed the driver for overloading the vehicle. The accident is the deadliest in the region since a similar one on November 15, 2023 in Doda district, where a bus skidded off the road and fell into a 300-foot gorge, killing 39 people and injuring 19.
