At least 22 pilgrims died and 64 others received injuries after an overcrowded bus, headed towards the famous Shiv Khori shrine, rolled down into a deep gorge near the Tungi Morh, Chowki Choura area of Akhnoor in Jammu division on Thursday. The list of dead included 10 males, 9 women, and two children. The majority of pilgrims hailed from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. According to a statement issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the bus bearing registration number UP81CT-4058 was carrying devotees from Kurukshetra towards the Shiv Khori shrine in the Reasi district when it met with an accident at around 12.35 p.m. on Thursday in which 21 passengers died and 54 others received injuries.
Initial reports suggested the driver of the ill-fated bus lost control of the wheels while negotiating a turn.
Some of the passengers who survived the fatal accident told local reporters that the bus driver failed to negotiate the turn due to high speed leading to an accident. Transport Commissioner, Jammu and Kashmir Rajinder Singh Tara, who along with senior officers also rushed to the spot, told media teams the accident was caused by human error. We have verified the relevant documents of the bus. The fitness certificate of the bus was found valid, he added.
The rescue teams have shifted the dead bodies to the Sub Divisional Hospital in Akhnoor and 54 injured passengers have been rushed to the Government Medical College hospital, Jammu for advanced treatment.
