Udhampur Bus Tragedy: Deaths Reach 21, 61 Injured
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Jammu, April 20 (NationPress) The number of fatalities in the Udhampur bus tragedy has increased to 21, as confirmed by Union Minister of State (MoS) Jitendra Singh on Monday.
In a message shared on X, Singh, who also represents the Lok Sabha for the Kathua-Udhampur region, stated, "There are 21 casualties reported and 61 individuals injured. The injured have been transported to Udhampur Hospital, while one critically injured person is being airlifted to Government Medical College in Jammu. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this tragedy."
He assured that all necessary support is being provided to those affected and added, "My office is maintaining constant communication with the concerned parties."
The incident occurred on Monday morning in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir when the bus was en route from Ramnagar to Udhampur town.
Earlier, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur, Prem Singh, mentioned that some of the injured are currently receiving treatment at the government medical college (GMC) hospital in Udhampur town, while others are being cared for in Ramnagar.
"At this moment, our main focus is on rescuing the injured and providing them with all the medical assistance they require," stated the officer.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, with officials reporting that the bus had overturned. Further details are pending.
J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha expressed, "The heartbreaking road accident in Udhampur has deeply saddened us. I offer my sincerest condolences to the affected families. May they find strength during this difficult time, and I am praying for the swift recovery of the injured. I have directed the district administration, police, SDRF, and health department to provide all possible support to those impacted by this incident."
The Chief Minister's office, represented by Omar Abdullah, conveyed, "The Chief Minister has expressed profound grief regarding the tragic road accident involving a passenger bus traveling from Ramnagar to Udhampur. He extends his heartfelt sympathies to the grieving families and prays for the injured's quick recovery. The Chief Minister has assured that the government will stand firmly with the victims and their families during this trying time and that all necessary assistance is being provided."
Contributing factors for accidents in the hilly districts of Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Ramban, Reasi, Kishtwar, and Udhampur include overloading, overspeeding, reckless driving, and poor road conditions.
The traffic department has deployed special teams in these hilly regions to monitor overloading, speeding, reckless driving, road rage, and other issues to prevent the loss of precious lives due to human error.