New Delhi: At least 36 people died as a bus plunged into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda Wednesday.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that another 19 were injured, of whom 6 were in critical condition. The injured have been taken to hospitals, he added, extending his condolences to the bereaved families.
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar said the bus skidded off the road near Trungal-Assar on the Batote-Kishtwar national highway and fell 300 ft downhill.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths, announcing an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for each of the next of kin. Modi allotted Rs 50,000 to the injured.
The bus accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir is distressing. My condolences to the families who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Rs.…
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 15, 2023
The state’s former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti posted on X: “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.”
Disturbing visuals from the scene of the accident showed the dead and injured laid on a clearing near where the bus had fallen. Rescue workers were seen trying to determine the condition of the passengers, while others were being pulled out of the mangled bus.
Also read: Deeply saddened due to loss of lives in bus accident in J-K: President Murmu