"I pray that the injured recover at the earliest."
A tragic incident took place in Jammu in which a bus crash killed over 30 people.
The bus was a 42-seater vehicle and it had been making its way to southern Jammu.
Jammu is a place in northern India. The bus crash took place in Indian-administered Kashmir in Doda.
The bus meandered off the road and fell into a gorge. The gorge was reportedly at least 300ft (91.44m).
The cause of the accident is said to have been negligence by the driver.
Police officer Sunil Gupta said: “Thirty passengers have died in the accident, caused by the driver’s negligence by hitting the crash bar of the road.”
More passengers are also critically injured.
Helicopter services swiftly arrived at the scene to attempt rescues.
A video posted to X showed the dilapidated bus at the bottom of the gorge.
People climbed on top of the bus and surrounded the vehicle helping injured passengers.
There were several onlookers scattered across the ledges of the gorge.
VIDEO | Several people feared dead after a bus, travelling from Kishtwar to Jammu, plunged into a deep gorge in Assar area of the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir earlier today.
(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/JiYR1kvfoT
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 15, 2023
Following the bus crash, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences on X.
Mr Modi said: “The bus accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir is distressing.
“My condolences to the families who have lost their near and dear ones.
“I pray that the injured recover at the earliest.
“An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh (£1,900) from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased.
“Rs. 50,000 (£480) would be given to the injured.”
The bus accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir is distressing. My condolences to the families who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Rs.…
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 15, 2023
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah also took to X to express thoughts of condolence.
He stated: “Deeply anguished to learn about the loss of precious lives due to a tragic bus accident at Doda, Jammu and Kashmir.
“The local administration is conducting the rescue operation in the gorge where the bus had the accident.
“My heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Dr Jitendra Singh, Indian Union Minister of State added:
“All of us are with the families of deceased in this grief.”
Road safety in India is at a shockingly low standard.
Approximately 100,000 people die every year due to bad driving and poor road conditions.
Replying to Mr Modi’s condolence message on X, a user said:
“This road is very dangerous from Doda to Batote.
“This road should be repaired.”
In 2022, there was a similar bus crash in Uttarakhand when the vehicle fell into a gorge, killing 25 people.
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