Tragic Bus Accident Claims 12 Lives in Udhampur, J&K
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Key Takeaways
Jammu, April 20 (NationPress) A tragic road incident in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district has resulted in the loss of at least 12 lives, while numerous others sustained injuries on Monday.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (MoS) PMO and Lok Sabha representative for the Kathua-Udhampur constituency, shared his condolences on X, stating, “I just spoke with the District Commissioner of Udhampur, Sh. Minga Sherpa, after being informed about a heartbreaking road mishap that occurred less than an hour ago at Kanote village, involving a public transport bus traveling from Ramnagar to Udhampur.”
He emphasized that a rescue operation was promptly launched. “We expect heavy casualties. All necessary support is being extended. The injured individuals will be transported for medical treatment. Arrangements are underway to airlift those in critical condition. I am maintaining constant communication with the local administration and our team led by Sh. Rajinder Sharma.”
The Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha, expressed his sorrow, stating, “The tragic road accident in Udhampur is heartbreaking. My heartfelt condolences go out to the affected families. I pray for their strength. I have instructed the district administration, police, SDRF, and health department to offer every possible aid to those impacted.”
According to officials, the accident involved a bus that overturned near Jalo village on the Ramnagar-Udhampur roadway, leading to the deaths of 12 passengers and injuring many others.
“Twelve individuals tragically lost their lives, and several were wounded in this incident. A rescue operation is actively in progress, involving senior officials from police, civil services, and SDRF on-site. The bus was en route to Udhampur town from Ramnagar at the time of the accident,” officials reported.
Authorities are currently investigating the precise circumstances surrounding the accident. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.
Overloading, excessive speed, reckless driving, and poor road conditions are frequently cited as primary factors contributing to accidents in the hilly regions of Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Ramban, Reasi, Kishtwar, and Udhampur districts within the union territory. The traffic department has deployed special teams in these areas to monitor and mitigate issues such as overloading, speed violations, reckless driving, and road rage, aiming to prevent further loss of life due to human error.
--IAN
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