Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 8: Fifteen persons including four children were killed while at least 24 others injured when an over- loaded bus (Canter) skidded off the road and fell into nearly 400 ft deep gorge in Kotranka (Budhal) area of district Rajouri today.
The tragic accident took place at around 11.10 am when the ill-fated 24-seater bus bearing registration No. JK-11/6437, was on its way to Rajouri town from Mandir Galla in Kandi-Budhal (Kotranka) area. As the vehicle had hardly covered nearly eight kilometer of distance and reached near Manohar Galla, about 17 kms from Rajouri, the driver lost control at a semi-concrete patch of road under repair and the vehicle went out of control. The driver could not keep control and amidst cries of the passengers, the vehicle rolled down and landed into the deep gorge. Eleven persons were killed on the spot, two on the way, while two others succumbed to their injuries in Rajouri hospital.
Among the unfortunate accident victims, about a dozen belonged to Swari village who had just boarded this ill-fated bus and travelled hardly 100 meters of distance in it. Eye-witnesses said that there was a heap of good earth lying on the road and GREF men had initiated some repair work on that patch. Some other material was also lying on the road side. Since the vehicle was in speed and driver could not control on the sloppy-patch, it rolled down due to mis-judgment of the driver.
Governor, N N Vohra and Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah have expressed deep shock and grief over the loss of precious human lives in tragic road accident in Kandi area of Rajouri. In their message to the bereaved families, they conveyed their solidarity and sympathy and prayed for peace to the departed souls. They also prayed for early recovery of those injured. The Chief Minister deputed the two ministers, Ch Ramzan and Shabir Ahmed to Rajouri in State helicopter and they announced Rs one lakh to the families of the deceased persons and Rs 10,000 in favour of injured out of Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Immediately after the accident, the workers at the site raised alarm and the people from the nearby shops and area rushed to the spot. They informed Kotranka and Rajouri police. SHO Kotranka, Rafiq Khan along with policemen reached there shortly. Some jawans and officers of Romeo Force (Army) from the nearby camp along with ambulance joined the civilian administration in rescue work.
SSP Rajouri, Mubassar Latiffi, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Sachin Kumar and DySP Operations and DySP Headquarters (Rajouri) along with some more force and ambulances rushed to the spot. They supervised the rescue operation and managed to take out dead bodies and the injured people from the deep gorge. The force men faced some difficulty in rescue work but the local villagers did a great job and assisted them.
While 11 persons were killed on the spot, two succumbed to injuries on way to hospital whereas, two others died in District hospital, Rajouri. Ten seriously injured were air-lifted to Govt Medical College hospital, Jammu in the Indian Air Force helicopters.
Some delay in arrival of helicopters from Jammu evoked protest at Rajouri hospital. The people raised slogans against the District administration and alleged that two injured succumbed in local hospital due to delay in evacuating them to GMC Jammu. The police, however, resorted to mild-lathicharge on the agitating villagers to disperse them. Later, 10 seriously injured were shifted to Jammu in four sorties in the IAF choppers.
However, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Pardeep Gupta, when contacted said, “MI-17 aircraft was not in the state of readiness when the Indian Air Force was approached for airlifting of injured passengers. But, on our request IAF immediately pressed two small choppers into service”.
Mr Gupta, who was coordinating rescue operation from Jammu further said, “later, IAF also operated MI-17 aircraft and it was due to the IAF’s timely help that the injured passengers could be airlifted to Jammu for treatment in Government Medical College and Hospital”.
Meanwhile, Minister for Transport and CAPD, Ch Ramzan, Minister incharge Health Shabir Ahmed Khan and MLA Darhal, Ch Zulfiqar reached Rajouri and visited hospital and inquired about the condition of the accident victims. They also met the families of the deceased persons and expressed their grief and shock over the tragic deaths. They announced Rs one lakh ex-gratia relief on behalf of Chief Minister for the families of the deceased persons and Rs 10,000 assistance for the injured.
Apart from this, District Administration also provided Rs 10,000 out of Red Cross Fund to the families of deceased and Rs 5000 for the injured. The ministers directed the hospital authorities to provide best possible treatment to the accident victims admitted in the hospital. Later, they also listened to the complaints of the local villagers of the area who alleged that due to poor maintenance of road by the agency such accidents are taking place. They held GREF authorities responsible for the mishap.
Those killed in accident are identified as Munir Hussain (45), son of Lal Din, resident of Swari, Alam Shah (42), son of Saidu Shah of Swari, Noor Hussain (76), son of Allah Din, resident of Lagiot, Mir Hussain (45), son of Shah Wali, resident of Sakri, Abdul Majid (55), son of Mehar Din, resident of Rehan, Shah Pari (40), wife of Mohd Shafi of Saleri, Shamim (15), daughter of Mohd Bashir of Trala, Taseem Akhtar (5), daughter of Salam Din of Sakri, 6-month old daughter of Altaf Hussain, Tazeem Akhtar, wife of Altaf Hussain of Kanthol, one year-old son of Mohd Qayoom of Swari, Shah Zaman (42), son of Mattu, resident of Sawari, Begum, wife of Nabia of Rehan village and Mohd Aziz, son of Mohd Ismail, resident of Rehan village in Kandi.
Begum and Mohd Aziz succumbed to injuries in Rajouri hospital. Shah Zaman and one year old male boy died while being shifted to district hospital. Those air-lifted to GMC Jammu are-Mohd Zunaid, son of Nabia of Rehan, Mohd Ashraf, son of Shah Mohd of Rehan, Salim Akhtar, wife of Mohd Qayoom of Trala, Mohd Parvez, son of Sabir Hussain of Thanda Pani, Nazia Akhtar, daughter of Salam Din of Swari, Naseem Akhtar, son of Mohd Shabir of Swari, Shaheen Akhtar, wife of Mohd Hanief of Swari, Abdul Aziz, son of Mohd Din, Billoo, wife of Mohd Shafi and bus driver, Swarn Singh, son of Naseeb Singh, all residents of Swari.
The injured admitted to District hospital Rajouri are: Jyoti Sharma, wife of Kala, resident of Swari, Parveen Akhtar, wife of Mohd Shabir of Swari, Mohd Riaz, son of Mohd Shabir of Swari, Mohd Younis, son of Abdul Rashid of Dhar Sakri, Kamal, son of Ved Parkash of Swari, Monika, daughter of Sukhdev Singh of Swari, Mohd Reyaz, son of Mohd Shabir, resident of Swari, Mohd Shafi, son of Makhna, Malika Kahtoon, wife of Altaf of Sawri, Mohd Arif, son of Mohd of Dhar Sakri, Parveen, wife of Mohd Shakoor of Swari, Chandia Khan, son of Lal Din of Swari and Sonia Anjum (2 yrs), daughter of Mohd Hanief of Swari. Their condition was stated to be stable by the doctors attending upon them in local hospital.
SSP Rajouri said that Army rendered commendable assistance to the civil administration in rescue work. He disclosed that GOC of the Romeo Force, was there on the spot supervising the operation besides him. Assistant Commissioner from Rajouri also rushed there within half an hour. Mr Latiffi said he moved down the gorge and closely monitored the rescue operation. He also lauded the help rendered by the villagers of the area and said that there was no trouble felt in evacuation as there was an approach to the gorge from hilly track. He disclosed that accident took place apparently due to negligence as some construction material (Mulba) was lying on the road and a slope had become there. The driver could not pre-judge and passed that area in same speed, resulting into the accident.
Replying to a question, the SSP said there was little protest against the GREF authorities at the site and also at hospital due to delay in the arrival of choppers from Jammu. The senior officers tried to pacify them and explained that it takes some time in the whole exercise. The local DC spoke to the Divisional Commissioner Jammu for requisition and the issue was taken up with IAF authorities at Jammu. The IAF men also need some time for preparation and reaching in Rajouri. The cops had to resort to mild cane charge to disperse some trouble shooters among the locals there, Mr Latiffi maintained.
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