15 dead as bus ferrying Amarnath pilgrims falls into gorge

15 persons were killed and 18 injured when a bus ferrying Amarnath pilgrims from Kashmir Valley plunged into a 300-feet deep gorge on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district apparently after the driver fell asleep.

The State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) bus was carrying 32 pilgrims, mostly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, who were returning from the shrine. It was on its way from Srinagar to Jammu last night when the accident occurred, SP Ramban Anil Magotra told PTI.

A survivior claimed that the accident occurred after the driver fell asleep. The driver, identified Angrez Singh from Ramban in J-K, was among those killed in the mishap that occurred about 140 kms from here.

"When the bus reached at Digdol on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban at about 2320 hours last night, it rolled down a 300-feet deep gorge, as a result of which 11 people died on the spot and 22 got critically injured, the SP said.

The injured were evacuated and shifted to District Hospital Ramban where three of them succumbed to injuries.

19 injured were referred to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Jammu for specialised treatment, where one passenger namely Jagan Nath of Darbanga (Bihar) succumbed to injuries, the SP said.

Magotra, who led the night-long rescue operation, said that operation have been concluded this morning.

Five of the 15 dead have been identified. Three of them hail from Bihar and one from UP. Of the 18 injured, 14 are from Bihar and three from UP.

The bodies have been shifted to GMC Jammu for identification.

The dead have been identified Samod Kumar of Keerthpur Tehsil of district Vishali (Bihar), Joyti Devi of Sahas Ram of district Darbanga (Bihar), Meeran Devi of Karote Tehsil in Saleempur (UP), Angreez Singh (driver) of Sooli Gam Tehsil in District Ramban and Jagan Nath of Darbanga (Bihar).

"The driver was sleepy when the mishap took place on the highway," said Arvind, an injured passenger who was admitted to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Jammu winter capital city.

Other injured passengers said that the drowsy driver had lost control of the vehicle once before the mishap and passengers had even pulled him up over it.

"He was slightly asleep when the bus rammed into the mountain and turned turtle before rolling down the deep gorge. After the bus hit the bottom of the gorge, I fell unconscious," he said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the loss of lives in the mishap and announced Rs1 lakh each for the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs10,000 each for those injured in the accident.

Lashing out at the Government and shrine board over the accident, BJP Legislative Party Chief Jugal Kishore Sharma alleged that the drivers working on the route were not getting rest.

Sharma, who visited the injured passengers, said "this is dangerous trend. Government and Board should wake up to the situation. Drivers are very busy... they donot get time to rest. SRTC drivers ferry pilgrims between base camps of Jammu and Batal, Pahalgam in Kashmir Valley.

"It is evident that they need sleep. The government should arrange more drivers so that they get time to rest. This cannot be tolerated."

Navin K Choudhary, CEO of the Amarnath Shrine Board, spoke on phone with Pradeep Gupta, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu to convey Governor and shrine board chairman NN Vohra's direction that proper medical attention is given to the pilgrims.

Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education, Youth Services and Sports RS Chib visited hospitals to inquire about the condition of the injured.

The minister announced Rs 25000 for the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs10, 000 for the injured from Government's Passenger Welfare Fund, besides immediate relief of Rs 2000 each injured from Red Cross Society Jammu.

The injured have been identified as:

Kalber Devi of Darbanga (Bihar)
Shanti Devi of Darbanga (Bihar)
Sushil Kumar
Shamboo Nath Choudhary of Darbanga (Bihar)
Beepa Devi of Darbanga (Bihar)
Gori Devi of Bihar
Rameshwar of Darbanga (Bihar)
Dhani Raj of Vishali (Bihar)
Ram Varun Mishra of Darbanga (Bihar)
Vedh Nath of Darbanga (Bihar)
Veena Devi of Darbanga (Bihar)
Seema Devi of Vishali (Bihar)
Parmod Kumar of Vishali (Bihar)
Bopinder Partab Singh of Deveria (UP)
S Dubey of Baranari (UP)
Kulsham Dubbay of Kalam Basti (UP)
Tej Buhader Singh of Saleempur (UP).