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Written by Express News Service | Jammu |
September 7, 2009 4:39:56 pm
September 7, 2009 4:39:56 pm
At least 19 passengers were killed and 28 others injured,many of them seriously,when a passenger bus rolled down into a deep gorge on the bank of river Chenab at Assar in mountainous Doda district this afternoon.
Pointing out that the bus was on way from Doda to Jammu,additional SP Doda,Arif Rishu,said that the mishap occurred when a portion of the road caved in. Significantly,this stretch of the road,which formed part of Batote-Doda national highway 1B,had caved in a few months earlier as well.
Since January this year,over 150 persons have been killed and more than 200 others injured in various road accidents in Doda,Kishtwar and Ramban districts all the three which earlier formed part of Doda district .
Police and army teams from Doda and Batote were rushed to the spot to launch rescue operations. Local people also reached the spot to help in rescue operations.
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Deputy Inspector General of Police for Doda-Ramban range,Deepak Kumar,who is personally heading the rescue operation on the spot,said that the death toll may rise as condition was many injured was critical. Most of the victims were reported to be locals who were coming to Jammu for some work.
The accident sent shock waves throughout the state,with Governor N N Vohra,Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressing shock over the loss of human lives.
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