Jammu: At least ten persons were killed and 55 others were injured when a bus carrying pilgrims to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu's Katra skidded off a bridge and fell into a gorge in the district, officials said Tuesday. One of the passengers who lost seven of his family members in the accident said he is left with only two people in the family with him now.
Many killed in accident after bus veers off bridge in Jammu. The bus bearing registration number UP81CT3537, which was on its way to Katra, met with the accident in Jajjar Kotli area after the driver lost control over the vehicle, which skidded off the road and fell into a gorge. The accident occurred about 15 km from Katra. Officials said the death toll is likely to go up with a few others having suffered grievous injuries.
According to preliminary investigations, the bus was reported to have been carrying pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The bus was bound to Katra which is the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the famous shrine atop Trikuta hills. The bus started its journey from Amritsar and has passed through Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, probably visiting pilgrimage sites before entering Jammu.
Jammu Senior Superintendent of Police Chandan Kohli confirmed the death of ten people in the accident adding at least 55 others have been injured in the mishap. Principal GMC Jammu, Dr Shashi Sudan said that eight people died on the spot while two succumbed on way to the hospital. Among the injured undergoing treatment at the hospital, to are critical, Sudan said.
A pilgrim hailing from Bihar who survived in the accident said that they were on way to the Vaishno Devi shrine when the accident took place. Ajay, another pilgrim also from Bihar claimed that the driver of the bus was over speeding due to which the accident took place. "We heard a creaking sound and we saw with our eyes the bus falling off the bridge," Ajay said.
He said that 3-4 people died on the spot while others succumbed on way to the hospital. Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, who visited the injured at GMC Jammu said that the accident might have been caused due to overloading adding the chances were very low. Sources said that the bus owned by Prince Travels, a 50 seater capacity bus was carrying 75 passengers when the accident took place.
Visuals from the site of the accident showed the local volunteers along with the security forces carrying out the rescue operation. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief on the accident.
"Extremely pained by the loss of lives in a tragic bus accident in Jhajjar Kotli, Jammu. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families & prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. Directed district administration to provide all possible assistance & treatment to the injured," LG Sinha said in a statement. It may be recalled that a 27-year-old woman was killed and 24 people were injured when a bus carrying Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims from Rajasthan returning home overturned in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, on May 21.
