In response to the deaths of pilgrims from Bihar in a bus accident in Jammu, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia payment to the families of the deceased.
On Tuesday morning, a bus fell into a deep gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, killing at least ten people and injuring around 55 others. “Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is deeply saddened by the death of Bihar natives in the bus accident in Jammu and Kashmir and has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin,” an official said.
The Chief Minister directed Jammu and Kashmir government officials to ensure that those injured in the accident received proper treatment. After meeting with those injured in the bus accident, J&K Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta stated that the injured have received all necessary assistance.
“All of the injured are being medically treated, and they are receiving all assistance,” he said. Dilbagh Singh, the Director General of Police (DGP) of J&K, also stated that two to three people were critically injured and are being treated.
“We’re doing everything we can to give the injured the best care possible.” After meeting the injured, Dilbagh Singh stated, “10 people have died and 2-3 are critically injured.”
A family member, Varun Kumar said, “75 members of the family had taken a bus for the ‘mundan’ ceremony of my aunt-uncle’s granddaughter. They had gone to Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra. I came to know of the accident at 6 am. My father has left for the spot.”
