JAMMU: As many as 12 people died while 18 others were injured after the minibus they were travelling in fell into a gorge at Sawjian Nallah in J&K’s Poonch district on Wednesday morning.
Among the deceased were two minor boys, aged five and 14, as well as three women, two of them teenagers.
“The accident took place near Barari Ballah Sawjian around 8.35am when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle near a bridge. The bus skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge,” said an official.
“Nine people died on the spot while more than 20 injured passengers were evacuated to a nearby hospital,” said the official.
“Out of those injured, 13 were shifted to the district hospital in Poonch. Later, three seriously injured persons succumbed during treatment,” Rajouri-Poonch DIG Dr Haseeb Mughal said. Meanwhile, six critically injured persons were airlifted to Jammu for advanced treatment.
Later in the day, J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha visited the district hospital to inquire about the health of those injured in the tragedy and met the doctors treating them.
Sinha announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs 1 lakh for those seriously injured in the accident. “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a road accident in Sawjian, Poonch. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.
Among the deceased were two minor boys, aged five and 14, as well as three women, two of them teenagers.
“The accident took place near Barari Ballah Sawjian around 8.35am when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle near a bridge. The bus skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge,” said an official.
“Nine people died on the spot while more than 20 injured passengers were evacuated to a nearby hospital,” said the official.
“Out of those injured, 13 were shifted to the district hospital in Poonch. Later, three seriously injured persons succumbed during treatment,” Rajouri-Poonch DIG Dr Haseeb Mughal said. Meanwhile, six critically injured persons were airlifted to Jammu for advanced treatment.
Later in the day, J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha visited the district hospital to inquire about the health of those injured in the tragedy and met the doctors treating them.
Sinha announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs 1 lakh for those seriously injured in the accident. “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a road accident in Sawjian, Poonch. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.