Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 25: In a tragic accident in the remote area of Udhampur district, 16 persons were killed and 50 injured, several of them critically, when a bus crammed with Baratis plunged into deep gorge at Dudu in Ramnagar tehsil this evening. Two real brothers of the bridegroom were among those who lost their lives in the accident, which took place due to the negligence of the driver as well as poor condition of the vehicle.
As the medical facilities in Dudu and Latti areas were inadequate, all the injured had to be shifted to Udhampur and Jammu hospitals in police as well as private vehicles. However, majority of them could not reach the hospitals till mid-night because of the area being more than 100 kilometers away from district headquarters of Udhampur and over 170 kilometers from Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu.
The tragic accident has once again brought to fore the million-dollar question about the plying of ‘unfit’ vehicles in the hilly and remote areas as the ill-fated bus was about 15 years old and had not been properly maintained.
Reports said that Barat had gone to Marothi area of Ramnagar tehsil yesterday and was returning to Basantgarh in a bus bearing registration number JK02J-1735 when met with tragic accident near Dudu Police Post and G-187 Battalion Headquarters of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at around 4.30 pm. The vehicle was carrying 66 persons against the seating capacity of only 42.
The cramming of vehicle coupled with its poor-condition and negligence of the driver led to the tragic accident in which two real brothers of the bridegroom along with 14 other relatives lost their lives and 50 sustained severe injuries. The bridegroom and bride were traveling in a separate vehicle and pall of gloom descended on both the families and their relatives as soon as they came to know about the tragic accident.
On getting information about the accident, Dudu Police as well as CRPF personnel from G-17 Battalion immediately swung into action and started rescue operation. The CRPF personnel under the close supervision of Manoj Kumar Sharma, Commandant and P K S Sanger, Assistant Commandant of 187 CRPF Battalion played key role in the rescue operation, which continued for several hours.
After hectic efforts, the Police and CRPF jawans succeeded in bringing all the 66 occupants of the ill-fated vehicle from the gorge. All were shifted to Primary Health Centre at Latti in the police and CRPF vehicles. Thirteen persons died on the spot while as three others succumbed to injuries while being shifted to Latti hospital.
As the manpower and facilities in Latti hospital were inadequate to provide proper medicare to the injured persons, the local administration decided to refer all of them to District Hospital Udhampur and Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu for specialized treatment. Later, the vehicles carrying the injured persons left Latti for Udhampur and Jammu. However, till the filing of this report the injured could not reach these hospitals because of long distance.
The identity of only six deceased could be established till mid-night and process of identification of injured would begin only after they reach Udhampur and Jammu hospitals.
Six deceased have been identified as Parshotam Singh and Joginder Singh, real brothers of bridegroom Rakesh Singh and sons of Baldev Singh, Karnail Singh, son of Nasib Singh, Mohd Shafiq, son of Mohd Din, Kuldeep Singh, son of Kirpal Singh and Balbir Singh, son of Bodh Raj, all the residents of Basantgarh.
Meanwhile, Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the loss of precious human lives in the tragic road accident.
In a message, Governor conveyed his sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to the souls of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident.
While expressing sympathy with the bereaved family, Chief Minister has directed the district administration for rendering all help to the injured ensuring them best possible medicare.
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