Pilgrim Bus Plunges into Gorge on Jammu-Pathankot Highway, One Dead
Bus crash on Jammu-Pathankot highway leaves 39 injured.
A devastating accident struck a group of pilgrims traveling to the revered Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district on Thursday morning. A bus carrying devotees from Uttar Pradesh veered off the Jammu-Pathankot highway and plummeted into a deep gorge, resulting in one fatality and 39 injuries, according to local authorities.
The tragedy occurred at Jatwal when the bus, en route to Katra, suffered a catastrophic tyre burst near a small bridge. The sudden loss of control caused the vehicle to skid off the road and tumble into the gorge below, officials reported. The deceased was identified as 45-year-old Iqbal Singh from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, who succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Emergency response teams swiftly launched a rescue operation, navigating the challenging terrain to reach the victims. The injured were promptly transported to a nearby hospital in Samba for urgent medical care. Seven of the most severely injured passengers were later transferred to the advanced facilities at AIIMS Vijaypur for specialized treatment.
Also Read: Crash in Afghanistan: 79 Dead, Including Kids
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene, with locals and passersby rushing to assist before professional help arrived. “It was horrifying. The bus was mangled, and people were screaming for help,” said Ravi Kumar, a nearby shopkeeper who witnessed the crash.
Authorities are investigating the incident, with initial reports pointing to the tyre burst as the primary cause. The condition of the highway and the bus’s maintenance records are also under scrutiny to determine if additional factors contributed to the accident. This tragedy has raised concerns about road safety for pilgrims traveling to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, a popular destination that attracts millions of devotees annually.
The local administration has assured support for the victims’ families and is coordinating with hospitals to ensure the injured receive adequate care. Meanwhile, the community mourns the loss of Iqbal Singh and prays for the recovery of those affected by this heartbreaking incident.
Also Read: Tragedy on Mumbai-Pune Expressway: One Dead, 18 Injured as Truck Ploughs Into 20 Vehicles
