Srinagar: In a tragic incident, at least four people lost their lives and 44 others were injured after a private bus fell into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Tuesday. Among those dead was a soldier. Following the incident, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed their condolences over the incident.
After the incident, CM Abdullah asked his cabinet colleague Mendhar Javed Ahmad Ranato reach the spot at the earliest and look after relief operations. The bus was on its way from Ghani village to Medha. The driver of the bust reportedly lost the control at around 9:20 AM this morning, after which it fell on the gorge. Locals also joined the army and police in rescue operations.
All 4 deceased identified
The deceased have been identified as Mohd Majeed (44), Shakeela Begum (55), Mohd Haneef (50) and Noor Hussain 60), a soldier who was posted posted in Assam. He was visiting his village on leave, news agency PTI reported.
While Hussain and Majeed lost their lives on spot, Begum died while being taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.. Haneef succumbed to injuries while being treated by doctors at a hospital. As per Mendhar Block Medical Officer Ashfaq Choudhary , a total of five persons, who are critically injured have been referred to the Jammu Government Medical College (GMC) hospital
“We have mobilised all 15 ambulances on getting information about the accident, and the injured were shifted from the scene with the active assistance of police, CRPF, Army and local volunteers,” news agency PTI quoted a doctor as saying.
Expressing his condolence, Sinha said, “Pained by the loss of lives due to a tragic road accident in Poonch. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for a speedy recovery of those injured in the accident.”
“Immediate directions have been issued to ensure the best possible medical care and full support to those affected. I have also requested (Minister) Javed Rana to visit the site and personally oversee the relief efforts,” the CM wrote in a post on X.
