Army conducts 14 sorties to airlift victims
Admn in full support of sufferers: LG
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 22: At least seven persons were killed and 20 others were injured when a school bus in which some staff members were going to attend a marriage party skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge at Durbuk, nearly 100 kilometres from Leh, in the Union Territory of Ladakh, this morning.
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Six persons died on the spot while an injured succumbed to the wounds in the hospital at Leh taking death toll to seven. Condition of another injured is stated to be critical and he is likely to be referred outside.
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The bus of Lamdon School was carrying a total of 27 teaching and non-teaching members and two children. It was on way from the school to attend marriage function of a staff member when it met with an accident at around 11 am.
Though no reason could be ascertained immediately, the possibility of mechanical fault or failure to negotiate curve by the driver, is under investigation.
Soon after the accident, the Police, Army, and local people launched a major rescue operation and shifted the injured to a nearby health facility where doctors declared six of them dead on arrival. Another injured later died in the hospital.
Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters carried out 14 sorties to airlift the accident victims from Durbuk to Leh.
District Magistrate Leh Santosh Sukhadeve said an unfortunate incident happened when a bus of School Lamdon carrying staff including two children met with an accident at Durbuk.
Injured are admitted in Sonam Nurboo Memorial (SNM) Hospital and Army Hospital in Leh.
The police have registered a case to ascertain the cause of the accident.
The Army said that seven people were killed and 20 others, including three children and 17 women, sustained injuries in the accident.
“In a swift and compassionate response, Indian Army personnel deployed near Durbuk, Ladakh, rendered crucial assistance following the tragic accident involving a civilian school bus today at approximately 11 AM,” the army said in a statement.
It said the bus carried 27 passengers and it lost control and plunged into a gorge. The Army said its troops in the area immediately rushed to the site of the accident and initiated the evacuation of the victims.
“The soldiers quickly transported all 27 injured to nearby medical facilities. The injured were initially evacuated to the Military Hospital and Primary Health Centre at Tangste, where they received urgent medical attention,” it said.
The Army said its Advanced Light choppers and Cheeta helicopters conducted 14 sorties to airlift the victims to the Military hospital in Leh.
“Following an initial examination and treatment, 20 of the injured were transferred to Sonam Norbu Memorial (SNM) Hospital in Leh,” the Army said.
One injured, suffering from a spinal injury, was retained at the Military Hospital in Leh for further treatment, the Army said.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Brig (Retd) BD Mishra has expressed grief on the loss of seven lives of Ladakhi citizens and the injury to others in a tragic road accident near Durbuk.
“My deep condolences go to the bereaved families. I wish for a speedy recovery to all injured,” the LG Ladakh said in a post on X.
“I pray to God to give fortitude to the affected families to bear the irreparable loss of the departed souls. May God keep their souls in peace. In this time of sorrow, the UT Administration is in full support of the sufferers,” he said.
The LG Ladakh has directed the UT Administration to render all possible help to the affected people at the earliest and immediately arrange helicopter evacuation of those seriously injured for specialized treatment.
The deceased have been identified as Tsering Dolma, resident of Sankar Sponbo, Stanzin Chosdon wife of Namgyal R/o Choglamsar, Tseran Dolkar wife of Tsering Phuntsog, resident of Nubra, Tsewang Lamo R/o Zanskar, Sonam Palmo, resident of Thiksay, Rinchen Dolma resident of Nay and Tsewang Gyatso (Driver).
Injured include Thinles Lamo (45), resident of Shachukul, Tashi Ladol (50), resident of Basgo, Dechen (30) resident of Wakha, Stanzin Yangdol (30) resident of Nubra, Phunsok Lamo (47), resident of Maan, Tsering Chorol (38) resident of Domkhar, Padma Dolkar (38), resident of Domkhar, Yangchen Dolkar (36), resident of Sagtotse, Thinles Angmo resident of Saboo, Sonam Dolam (45), resident of Martselang, Padma Angmo (36), resident of Nemolng, Sonam Yangdol (39), resident of Shachukul, Angdu Dolkar resident of Saboo, Tsering Dolkar, resident of Sakhti, Thinles Angmo, resident of Saboo, Jigmeet, Vondon (7) resident of Saboo, Diskit Angmo (32), Yangdol (28), Jigmit Yangdol (10), Thinles Dawa (10) and Tsering Yangdol (50).
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