Ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to NoK, Rs 50,000
to injured; PM, Shah express grief
STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: Eleven killed and another 14 got injured when a vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge at Sui Gowari area of Doda on Thursday morning.
According to police, a Mini Bus bearing registration no JK17-4021 was on way to Doda from Thathri, when reached at Sui Gowari area on Batote-Doda-Kishtwar National Highway NHW244 , driver lost control over the steering while negotiating a curve and fell into 100 feet deep gorge.
LG visits injured airlifted from Doda
Deaths widely mourned
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Thursday visited Government Medical College Jammu here to enquire about the well-being of patients injured in Doda road accident who were airlifted immediately to GMC Jammu, on the directions of the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor gave explicit directions to doctors at GMC to ensure best possible medical care of the injured for their early recovery.
The Lt Governor had been monitoring the situation personally and had directed the district administration to provide all necessary assistance to the families who have lost their loved ones and all those who were injured in the road accident.
Earlier, the Lt Governor announced Rs 3 Lakh compensation for the NoKs of every deceased, Rs 2 Lakh from LG’s discretionary fund and Rs 1 Lakh from Road victim fund as immediate relief.
The Lt Governor also held discussion with Principal GMC Jammu, Dr. Shashi Sudhan Sharma among other senior officers.
Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad has expressed his heartfelt grief on the loss of life in the tragic road accident. He has demanded that adequate compensation for the family members of those deceased and proper medical attention to those who are injured.
“Time and again I am impelled to talk about the traffic mismanagement on this particular road. It has claimed many precious lives. I am sure the UT authorities will press all available resources into action and take immediate remedial measures. My heart goes out for those who lost their loved ones. Injured should be given immediate medical attention” said Azad.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan also expressed grief and shock over the tragic deaths.
In his condolence message, Advisor Khan conveyed his deep condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of the injured passengers.
Advisor assured all possible assistance to the injured and bereaved families by the district and divisional administration.
Former MLA and BJP leader Devender Singh Rana has also expressed grief over the deaths, describing the accident as most tragic and unfortunate.
“My heart goes out to the families who have lost their dear ones in the tragedy”, Rana said in a statement and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
Rana prayed for peace to the departed souls and strength to their families to bear this irreparable loss. He also wished speedy recovery to those injured in the accident.
J&K BJP leaders expressed deep grief over the loss of precious lives in a road accident near Doda.
J&K BJP President Ravinder Raina said that the tragic accident was heart-breaking, where many precious lives were lost in the painful accident on Doda-Thathri road and many people were injured in the accident.
He said that we pray to God for peace to the souls of all those who lost their lives in this accident and at the same time, speedy recovery of all the injured.
He said that LG administration has done recommendable job in the relief operation after the accident. He also said that BJP will look after that every possible effort is taken to provide every type of relief to the bereaved families and the best medical aid to the injured.
J&K BJP General Secretary (Org.) Ashok Kaul, who is in Kashmir, expressed deep shock and grief over the death of valuable lives in tragic Thathri-Doda accident.
He offered heartfelt condolence to the bereaved families of persons who lost their lives and prayers for speedy recovery of those injured. He further appealed to the administration to provide preeminent relief to the affected and said that the special efforts be ensured to provide best possible health facilities to the injured.
JKPCC Vice President and former Cabinet Minister Raman Bhalla also expressed shock over the deaths.
Condoling the loss of lives in road accident in he demanded district administration to provide immediate relief to families of deceased and best medical assistance to the injured. My thoughts and prayers for the families who have lost their loved ones,in this hour of grief, I convey my condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that the people who have been injured recover at the earliest, said Bhalla. In the wake of the tragic road accident, the authorities should tighten the noose around the violators of traffic rules to avoid the recurrence of such mishaps. There is need to work out modalities for streamlining traffic, besides strict implementation of traffic rules to curb accidents should be priority of govt. There is need to conduct a test for driving skills of drivers of all modes of transport who plied vehicles on various roads of the district with special focus on accident prone areas due to its topography. Besides checking overloading of passenger vehicles, documents, including fitness certificates and driving licences, both traffic and transport authorities should ensure proper coordination for strict implementation of traffic rules so that the incidence of road accidents was minimized, added Bhalla.
Locals, Police, Army, SDRF and other volunteers immediately rushed to the spot and shifted all to Associate Hospital GMC Doda, where doctors declared ten of them as brought dead.
When contacted Superintendent Associate Hospital GMC Doda Dr Yudhvir Singh said that as of now we have received total 25 persons here, out of which 10 were brought dead, later one injured also succumbed to his injuries taking death toll to 11.
The deceased have been identified as Ghulam Hussain Shah (60) son of Maqbool Shah, his son Shabbir Ahmed (30) resident of Bharote Mohala, Rhitik Sharma (19) son of Lekh Raj resident of Jhateli, Jammal Din (23) son of Lal Din, resident of Bakhana Mohala; Mohd Latief (65) son of Mohd Ramzan, resident of Bharoa Bhaderwah, Annari Devi (55) wife of Swami Raj, resident of Sisol Bharshalla, Bhadur Singh (65), son of Hari Singh, resident of Shirdhani Bhella, beside two unidentified bodies which according to Superintendent GMC Doda Dr Yudhvir Kotwal were brought dead while Santosh Kumar (22) son of Somnath and Rajesh Kumar(24) son of Bhodi Singh resident of Parnote of Mohala died in hospital.
Those who are undergoing treatment at GMC Doda include Sanjay Kumar (18), Navees Akhtar (45), Rohit Sharma (21), Neetu Devi(17), Vikram Singh (22), Ashok Sharma (22), Santosh Kumar (22) Arif Hussain(21) and Savita Devi (45).
Meanwhile seven seriously injured, airlifted to GMC Jammu, included Rajesh Kumar (24) Ramesh Kumar (27), Monika devi (24), Santhosha Devi (22), Babur Hussain (25), Pervaiz Ahmed (32) and Ponam Devi (22).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled deaths in the road accident. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives, the injured would be given Rs 50,000, PMO said.
“Saddened by the road accident near Thatri, Doda in Jammu and Kashmir. In this hour of grief, I convey my condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that the people who have been injured recover at the earliest,” a tweet from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
Union Minister Dr Jatinder Singh, Ex MLA Bhadarwah, Ex MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta, Congress leader Randeep Bhandari also paid condolences to the families of those killed in the road accident.
A tweet from Office of LG J&K reads as “Deeply anguished to hear about the tragic road accident in J&K’s Doda. My thoughts & prayers for the families who have lost their loved ones. Have directed the Dist Admin to provide immediate relief to families of deceased & best medical assistance to the injured.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha after a road accident in Doda district left nine people dead.
Shah condoled the loss of lives in the accident.
“Saddened by the road accident in J&K’s Doda. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. I have spoken to Lt Governor @manojsinha_ ji. The administration is providing all possible help and treatment to the injured. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Shah tweeted in Hindi.
DDC Vice-Chairperson Doda Sangeeta Bhagat has expressed deep shock over the unfortunate accident at Sui Gowari Doda. She expressed her heartfelt condolences with deceased families and prayed speedy recovery of injured persons.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Raghav Langer also visited Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Doda to enquire about the condition of persons injured in Doda road accident.
On the directions of Lieutenant Governor, the Divisional Commissioner rushed to district Doda to know about the condition of the accident victims admitted in the Medical College Hospital Doda.
“Total 8 injured have been admitted in GMCH Doda and all are stable, while 7 critical injured were shifted to GMCH Jammu for specialised treatment” the concerned medical superintendent informed Divisional Commissioner.
The Divisional Commissioner directed the hospital administration to provide the best treatment to the injured for their early recovery.
The Divisional Commissioner also ordered magisterial enquiry into the cause of the tragic accident. Additional District Magistrate Doda, Dr RK Bharti has been asked to conduct enquiry and submit the enquiry report & findings within one week.
Expressing grief over the loss of precious lives in the road mishap, the Div Com asked the district administration to take concrete measures to prevent such mishaps.
The Div Com was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Doda, Vikas Sharma; ADC Doda, RK Bharti; Chief Medical Officer, Yaqooq Mir and other health officers.