Pilgrims’ bus accident at Akhnoor
*CS visits GMC to meet victims
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 31: All the 22 dead bodies of those killed in Akhnoor bus accident yesterday, were sent to their respective homes in Aligarh area of Uttar Pradesh in a train today, while six J&K Transport Department officials at Lakhanpur in Kathua were suspended for alleged dereliction of duty in this connection.
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A tragic incident took place on Thursday, when the bus carrying 90 devotees from Hathras area of Aligarh, after brief halt at Kurukshetra was heading towards the Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi district, rolled down into nearly 150 feet deep gorge on Jammu-Poonch highway near Tanda in Akhnoor. The driver lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a curve at Tungi Morh, causing major accident in which 22 pilgrims were killed and 69 others injured.
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Secretary, Transport Department, Niraj Kumar today ordered the suspension and a probe after a high-level meeting was chaired by Principal Secretary of the Home Department Chandraker Bharti.
“Pending enquiry into the conduct and dereliction of duties, officials posted in the Regional Transport Office in Kathua (Lakhanpur) are placed under suspension with immediate effect and are attached in the office of Transport Commissioner, Jammu,” Kumar said in an order.
The suspended officials are Ranjeev Bhasin (Motor Vehicle Inspector), Sumit Magotra (Junior Assistant) and four multi-tasking staff (MTS) members- Ashwani Kumar, Aman Kumar, Keshav Singh and Rakesh Kumar.
An inquiry into the conduct and performance of the suspended officials will be led by Additional Secretary (Technical) Paramvir Singh, who will submit a report with recommendations within a week, Kumar said.
The officials have been attached to the Transport Commissioner’s office in Jammu, pending the outcome of the enquiry.
Meawhile, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today visited Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, to enquire about the health of the injured of Akhnoor bus mishap.
The Chief Secretary termed the incident as tragic and unfortunate and directed the hospital authorities to ensure best medicare for the injured for their speedy recovery.
He prayed for those who lost their lives in the road mishap. He extended heartfelt condolences to their families saying that the Government would extend all necessary facilities to the accident victims. He assured that best medical care would be provided to the injured.
The Chief Secretary directed the administration to enquire into the causes of the road accident so that such incidents are avoided in future.
It is pertinent to mention here that Jammu District Magistrate has already initiated a Magisterial inquiry into the incident and the report is expected within seven days.
The District administration is closely monitoring the treatment of those injured in the accident, besides communicating with authorities in the passengers’ home regions of Hathras and Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh.
Deputy Commissioner of Jammu Sachin Kumar said the treatment of the injured is going on at the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital.
The Jammu administration announced on Thursday that it has set up a 24-hour helpline to provide information and assistance to the relatives of the victims.
Meanwhile, the relatives of the dead and the injured passengers reached Jammu today. They moved to the GMC Hospital Jammu. The dead bodies of the 22 dead persons were shifted to Railway Station and were transported to Aligarh, a senior police official said.
He further said all the injured are responding to the treatment in GMC Jammu. Two patients were on ventilators. One of them (Gotam) was operated upon today while the young girl was also shifted to the ward from ICU.
The accident is the deadliest in the region since a similar one on November 15, 2023 in Doda district, where a bus skidded off the road and fell into a 300-foot gorge, killing 39 people and injuring 19.
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