This is an archive article published on July 17, 2017
17 Amarnath pilgrims killed in accident
“Eyewitnesses gave us different versions. Some said a tyre of the bus burst and the driver lost control. Some said that the brakes didn’t work,” Deputy Superintendent of Traffic Vishal Manhas said
Amarnath Yatra bus accident: Rescue operation by Army underway. (Express photo by Shuaib Masoodi)
SEVENTEEN AMARNATH pilgrims, including two women, were killed and 29 injured when the state transport bus in which they were travelling skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge at Banihal on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway Sunday afternoon. Police said they were investigating the cause of the accident. “Eyewitnesses gave us different versions. Some said a tyre of the bus burst and the driver lost control. Some said that the brakes didn’t work,” Deputy Superintendent of Traffic Vishal Manhas said.
“… we are not sure about the exact cause of accident.” The bus was moving up a slope when it skidded off the road and rolled into a stream near Nachilana, the police said. While most part of the stretch is barricaded, there was no barricade at the spot where the accident took place. “About 10-20 metres of the road is not barricaded,” DSP Manhas said. “And that is exactly where the bus rolled down.”
The bus was carrying 47 pilgrims, mostly from Bihar and Rajasthan, the police said. Sixteen of those killed were identified. Patna District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agrawal said five of the victims were from Danapur, a sub-division of Patna. The government has announced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family of each victim. Three victims each were from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, two from Assam and one each from Delhi, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.
The accident took place close to the Army camp at Nachilana. Sources said the Army and police were immediately pressed into the rescue and relief operation. Local people also assisted them in the rescue work. The injured pilgrims were taken to Srinagar and Jammu for specialised treatment. The State Road Transport Corporation ordered a probe into the cause of accident and set up an inquiry committee. The committee has been asked to present its report within two days. CM Mehbooba Mufti, while expressing sorrow over the accident, hailed the “efforts of locals, Army, police and civil administration” in the rescue operation and ordered ex-gratia relief for the families of the victims.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.
Expertise and Experience
Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor.
Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans:
Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance.
Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population.
Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley.
Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More
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Amarnath Yatra bus accident: Rescue operation by Army underway. (Express photo by Shuaib Masoodi)
