President Murmu, political leaders express shock, sadness over loss of lives in Doda accident

STATE TIMES NEWS

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minster Narendra Modi and political leaders on Wednesday expressed shock and sadness over a bus accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda that has killed at least 38 people.
“I am deeply saddened by the news of the unfortunate death of several passengers in a bus accident in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. I express my condolences to the bereaved family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” Murmu said in a post in Hindi on X, formerly Twitter.
At least 38 people were killed and 20 injured when the bus carrying passengers skidded off the road and rolled down into a 300-foot deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the bus accident was distressing. “My condolences to the families who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest,” Modi said on X.
He announced that an ex gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh each would be given to the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed pain and anguish over the loss of lives in the bus accident and urged authorities to speed up the relief and rescue work.
“Pained and anguished to hear about the terrible bus tragedy in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir which has resulted in loss of many precious lives. We urge the authorities to expedite the rescue and relief work,” he said in a post on X.
“In this hour of grief, our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. May they get the strength to overcome their losses,” he said.
Officials said the bus bearing registration number JK02CN-6555 was reportedly carrying around 40 passengers. They said it skidded off the road near Trungal-Assar on the Batote-Kishtwar national highway and fell 300 feet downhill.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and three former chief ministers of the erstwhile state expressed condolences over the loss of lives.
“Extremely pained by the loss of lives in a tragic bus accident in Assar, Doda. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families & wishing for a speedy recovery of those injured in the accident. Directed Div Com & Dist Admin to provide all necessary assistance to affected persons,” Sinha posted on X.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also expressed grief over the loss of lives. “Deeply shocked & saddened about the tragic road accident at Assar in Doda. Deepest condolences to the families of those feared dead & hope the administration expedites rescue operations,” she posted on X.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah also expressed sadness over the loss of lives.
“JKNC President Dr Farooq Abdullah and VP @OmarAbdullah are extremely shocked and saddened to hear about the road accident at Assar near Trungal in Doda district in which several are feared dead. They have implored the administration to provide all possible help to the injured. In this moment of immense grief, their thoughts and prayers lie with the families of the deceased,” the National Conference posted ion X.
Political leaders on Wednesday expressed shock and sadness over a bus accident in Doda that has killed at least 37 people.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives in a road accident, JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla said, “Saddened by the road accident near Thatri, Doda. In this hour of grief, I convey my condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that the people who have been injured recover at the earliest.”
“The traffic police should act against the overloading and speedy vehicles on the hilly roads that often lead to fatal road accidents and loss of lives,” he said.
National Conference Additional General Secretary and former Minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, while expressing shock over the mishap, said, “My heart goes to the families, who lost their dear ones in the shocking accident.”
Sadhotra prayed for peace to the departed souls and speedy recovery of all the injured.
Seeking probe into the circumstances leading to this tragic accident, especially in the wake of reports of overlapping in the ill-fated passenger vehicle, Sadhotra said this is all the more necessary as the vehicle might have crossed many spots having police bandhobast.
The accident speaks volumes about the so-called alertness of those manning the traffic management, especially on highways, he said.
Vice chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) GM Saroori, General Secretaries, RS Chib, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Provincial President Ab Majeed Wani, Anita Thakur, Provincial Gen Secretaries- Maheswar Singh, Sobat Ali, Vishal Chopra General Secretary and Print Media Incharge, PR Manhas Zonal President Pir Panchal and Gharu Ram Choudary Zonal President Jammu Zone expressed deep anguish over bus accident.
DPAP activists and leadership demanded high level judicial enquiry into the accident to fix the responsibility for such accidents and recommend remedial measures to prevent further death on roads in hilly areas.
They urged Prime Minister & Home Minister to sanction ex gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh to next kin of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to injured persons.
DPAP leaders also visited Government Medical College Hospital to look condition of patients.
Former MLC Vikramaditya Singh expressed deep grief over the tragic accident in Doda district
Former MLC conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls. He also urged the government to provide the best medical care to the injured and offer adequate compensation to the families of the victims.
Vikramaditya Singh, who contested the MP election from the Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary Constituency, said that the erstwhile Doda district is known as an area prone to fatal road accidents.
He emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, ensuring that only roadworthy vehicles and qualified drivers operate commercial vehicles.
He also stressed the importance of curbing vehicle overloading, a significant contributing factor to these accidents.
Ajatshatru Singh, senior BJP leader and former Transport Minister expressed grief over the loss of lives in an accident in Doda.
Ajatshatru Singh prayed for peace to the departed souls and fortitude to the bereaved families. He also prayed for speedy recovery of the injured and impressed upon the divisional administration to ensure the affected families get relief and adequate ex gratia.