Jammu & Kashmir: Bus Returning From Vaishno Devi Falls In Gorge, 1 Dead, 17 Injured

In a saddening incident, a bus carrying pilgrims from the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra to Delhi met with a tragic accident and fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Manda. The driver lost his life, while 17 passengers sustained injuries. All injured were swiftly taken to the nearby hospital for medical treatment.

According to the reports, injured passengers include seven women and ten men. They have been identified as Anjali (58), Nitesh (35), Sudhir Maheshwari (65), Subash (55), Vrinda (24), Shurti (25), Dhuruv (18), Prachi Sharma (24), Vinod Kumar (32), Kartikay Tripathi (28), Kalyani Sharma (25), Himanshu (20), Shreya (23), Sandhya (50), Akshay (29), Aatish (24) and Akansha (27). All of them were promptly taken to the hospital for treatment.

Authorities Respond to Tragic Accident

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his sorrow over the incident. In a post on X, he conveyed, "Deeply saddened by the bus accident at Manda, carrying pilgrims from Katra to Delhi. My heartfelt condolences to the family of the driver who lost his life in this tragic incident."

He further added, "Thankfully, all injured passengers are stable and receiving medical care. Wishing them a swift recovery. Grateful to the rescue teams and officials for their prompt and commendable efforts. My office is in touch with the concerned authorities."

Efforts for Swift Recovery

The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, also expressed his deep sorrow regarding the accident. In a post on X, he stated, "The road accident at Manda in Jammu is saddening. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the family of the driver who lost his life."

He continued by saying, "I hope that the injured recover at the earliest. I have directed senior officials to extend all possible help to the injured pilgrims." The authorities are actively working to ensure that those affected receive necessary support.