Nishikant Khajuria
UDHAMPUR, May 11: In a tragic road accident, 24 persons died and 52 others got injured, a number of them critically, when an overloaded passenger bus plunged into 400-feet deep gorge at Marothi near Latti in Chenani tehsil, here this morning.
The ill fated bus was on way from Jakhed to Udhampur when the driver lost control over steering resulting into the accident at Bandrasa Morh around 10.35 a.m. “Eighteen persons died on the spot while six others succumbed to their injuries on way to Hospital,” informed SSP Udhampur Suleman Choudhary. Fifty two injured are undergoing treatment at different hospitals, including GMC Jammu, District Hospital Udhampur and Sub-District Hospital Chenani, he added.
According to the eye witnesses, the 42 seater bus was carrying around 80 passengers, a number of whom were hanging on doors and sitting on the rooftop. The bus left Jakhed village for Latti town early this morning at 8.30 a m. As another bus, which was scheduled to leave Latti for Udhampur at 9 a m, was unavailable, passengers of both the busses were forced to board the only available this bus which left Latti at 10 a m and fell into the deep gorge at 10.35 am.
The accident took place at Bandrasa Morh in village Marothi when the bus plunged into 400 feet deep gorge somersaulting several times. Severity of the accident can also be gauged from the fact that roof of the bus was completely blown away and passenger seats could be seen open. Dead bodies and injured passengers were scattered in around 500 meter radius of the accident site.
Locals of Latti and adjoining areas as well as some CRPF Jawans, located nearby, were the first to reach at the site and launch the rescue operation. They were soon joined by personnel from Police and civil administration. Around eight ambulances from PHC Latti, PHC Sudhmahadev and Sub- District Hospital Chenani besides dozens of local vehicles were pressed into service for shifting the injured to Chenani.
Eighteen persons died on the spot while six others succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital. Seven critically injured were airlifted to Jammu and one of them died soon after admission at Government Medical College Hospital. Fifty two injured are undergoing treatment at District Hospital Udhampur and Sub-District Hospital Chenani.
Those who died on the spot, were identified as Beig Raj 24 son of Shiv Dass of Latti , Babli Devi (23) wife of Bittu Ram of Ramnagar, Rohit (01) son of Bittu Ram resident of Ramnagar, Driver Sham Lal (55), resident of Bakshi Nagar Jammu , Kamani Chouhan (26) wife of Rattan Chand resident of Jakhed , Nasse-u-din (50) son of Abdul Hamid of Basantgarh, Poli Devi (40) wife of Mulkh Raj of Pachound , Pachu Ram (36) son of Diwan Chand resident of Chapper , Munshi Ram (56), son of Niku of Jakhed, Shanoo Devi (30) wife of Madan Lal of Manwal , Omkar Chand (28) son of Hem Ram of Chapper, Ranjeet Kumar (19) son of Charan Dass of Jakedh, Bishnoo Devi (30) wife of Mool Ra of Sira, Kaku Ram (45) son of Man Chand of Pachound , Gauran Devi (40) wife of Kaka Ram, resident of Pachound , Kamla Devi (70) wife of Krishan Lal of Marothi, Jeewan Kumar (18) son of Puran Chand of Dudu and Gyatri Devi (15) daughter of Bhim Sen resident of Latti
One Mohd Maqbool of Kupwara succumbed to his injuries at GMC Hospital Jammu while one Rekha Devi died at PHC Sudhmahadev. Two-year old Archana Devi died at Mantalai while being airlifted to Jammu.
Three others, who succumbed to their injuries at Sub-District Hospital Chenani, were identified as Vidya Devi, daughter of Bhushan Kumar resident of Sarar, Sharad Devi wife of Bhushan Kumar of Sarar and Shobha Devi wife of Jagdev of Khurd
Those admitted at GMC Hospital, were identified as Pawan Kumar, son of Kewal of Marothi, Rakesh Kumar, son of Behari Lal of Srar, Rattan Chand, son of Frangu of Jakhed, Manisha Devi, daughter of Joginder Singh of Maroti and Prem Nath, son of Ranu of Jakhed.
The injured, undergoing treatment at District Hospital Udhampur and Sub-District Hospital Chenani, were identified as; Shakti Kumar son of Kaku Ram of Latti, Darshan Kumar son of Fringu of Jakhed, Bal Krishan son of Shiva of Latti, Rakesh Kumar son of Raj Kumar of Ghantwal, Nazira Begum, wife of Abdul Azoom of Bhast , Mohd Gul Shubar, son of Jalal Din of Uttar Pardesh, Darshan, son of Puran Chand of Dudu, Bal Krishan, son of Daya Ram of Latti, Sudesh, son of Sagar Chand of Panchound, Joginder, son of Hem Raj of Marothi, Sagar Chand, son of Sadhu Ram of Panchound , Kaka Ram, son of Munshi Ram of Jakhed, Pintu, son of Gudu of Uttar Pardesh, Sunaina, daughter of Rattan Chand of Jakhed, Balbir Singh, son of Rattan Chand of Jakhed, Pooja Devi, daughter of Som Raj of Latti, Rakesh Kumar, son of Hem Raj of Marothi, Ajeet Kumar son of Ananat Ram of Panchound, Om Parkash, son of Man Chand of Panchound , Mohan Lal, son of Munshi Ram of Jakhed, Sanjay Kumar, son of Dhani Ram of Kosar , Tara Chand, son of Darshan Kumar of Jakhed, Suresh Chander, son of Krishan Chand of Sarar, Veera Devi, wife of Kewal Kumar, of Chagg, Joginder, son of Suram Chand of Jakhed, Rakesh Kumar, son of Mulkh Raj of Dudu, Neelam Devi wife of Bihari Lal of Dudu , Savitri Devi wife of Shiv Kumar of Dudu, Akash Kumar, son of Madan Lal of Manwal, Nishu Devi wife of Rakesh Kumar of Dudu, Sharda wife of Bhushan Kumar of Sarar, Rekha, wife of Shanker Singh of Kither, Shamsher Singh, son of Krishanu of Kither, Pushpa, wife of Ved Raj of Latti, Sharda Devi, wife of Rakesh Kumar of Sira, Munshi Ram, son of Massu, resident of Latti , Rohit Sharma son of Bihari Lal of Dudu, Kajal, daughter of Madan Lal of Manwal,
Zumma, son of Ghulam Hussian of Ghordi, Kuldeep Kumar, son of Som Raj of Latti, Rattan Lal, son of Man Chand of Panchound , Sham Lal, son of Munshi Ram of Latti, Girdhari Lal, son of Munshi Ram of Latti and Joginder Kumar son of Som Raj of Latti.
It may be recalled that 35 Baratis had died on this road in a similar accident, more than a year ago.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has expressed deep shock and grief over the death of 24 persons in the bus accident. In his condolence message, Mufti Sayeed conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls.
Wishing speedy recovery of passengers injured in the accident, the Chief Minister directed Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, to ensure that best possible medical treatment is extended to them.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad has also expressed deep sorrow and grief on the loss of precious lives in the road accident at Latti. Underlining the need to have an action plan to contain road accidents, Azad urged the State Government to take meaningful steps to arrest the malaise of road accidents in the State. He also urged the State Government to provide adequate ex-gratia relief to the kin of the bereaved families and required medical attention to the injured.
Pawan Kumar Gupta, MoS Finance and Information Technology, along with Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Yasha Mudgal and MLA Chenani Dina Nath Bhagat visited injured at Sub- District Hospital Chenani and issued necessary instruction proper medical attention to the victim. Earlier, he also visited the accident site.
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