At least 11 people have died while several others have been injured after a minibus they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Wednesday.
Eleven deaths have been confirmed so far in the accident that took place in Sawjian-a village of Poonch district.
UPDATE | 11 total deaths yet reported in the mini-bus accident that occurred in the Sawjian area of Poonch in J&K.
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2022
Mandi Tehsildar Shehzad Latif said Army’s rescue operation is underway and many injured have been shifted to a hospital in Mandi.
Early visuals from the accident spot that surfaced on social media showed locals gathered in large numbers around the bus involved in the incident lying damaged after falling into the gorge.
Locals and administration are carrying out a rescue operation to pull out the survivors.
Bus accident at Sawjian Mandi Poonch
More details awaited.Locals and administration are on job. pic.twitter.com/osmlwj61hT— Altaf Nyk (@AltafNyk4) September 14, 2022
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for family members of the deceased and also directed authorities to provide the best treatment to those injured.
Saddened by loss of lives due to a road accident in Sawjian, Poonch. Condolences to bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Rs. 5 lakh would be given to the next of kin of deceased. Directed Police and Civil authorities to provide best possible treatment to the injured.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) September 14, 2022
In a tweet, L-G Sinha expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. “Saddened by loss of lives due to a road accident in Sawjian, Poonch. Condolences to bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Rs. 5 lakh would be given to the next of kin of deceased. Directed Police and Civil authorities to provide best possible treatment to the injured,” L-G Manoj Sinha said in the tweet.
President Droupadi Murmu also expressed distress over the loss of lives in the road accident. In a tweet, President Murmu said, “The loss of lives in a tragic road accident in Sawjian, Poonch is deeply distressing”.
The loss of lives in a tragic road accident in Sawjian, Poonch is deeply distressing. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery of the injured.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 14, 2022
“My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery of the injured,” the President added.
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