Pahalgam bus accident: On Wednesday at the wreath-laying ceremony of ITBP jawans who died in the Pahalgam bus accident, Manoj Sinha, Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governer,  lent his shoulder to the mortal remains of the jawans. The wreath-laying ceremony was conducted at DPL Srinagar.

As per ITBP, seven of their jawans from 32 personnel lost their lives after a bus carrying them fell into a riverbed in Pahalgam on Tuesday. Whereas nine others were evacuated by a helicopter to 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar as they were critically injured. A total of 32 injured were shifted to Srinagar.

This accident happened when an ITBP bus carrying 37 personnel and two J-K police were on their way to Pahalgam from Chandanwari when it rolled down into the deep gorge reportedly after its brakes malfunctioned.

On the accident, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased ITBP personnel.

“Deeply anguished by the bus accident near Chandanwari in which we have lost our brave ITBP personnel. My condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. All possible assistance is being provided to the injured personnel,” Lt Governor Sinha said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed his grief on the tragic incident and took to Twitter to wish for the early recovery of those injured.
“Anguished to learn about the accident of a bus carrying ITBP and police personnel in Pahalgam, J&K. My prayers and thoughts are with the bereaved families. The injured were rushed to the hospital. May they recover at the earliest,” he tweeted.

A doctor at the Government Medical College of Anantnag, Dr Syed Tariq said that 30 people were injured in the accident. The mishap took place at Frislan in the Pahalgam area.

The jawans were deputed in the area for the Amarnath Yatra.

“We are in touch with local administration and teams of disaster management have been rushed to the site for a rescue operation,” an ITBP official said.

The Amarnath Yatra began on June 29, from Jammu amid tight security arrangements made by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) along with the army and the local police.

The Amarnath shrine pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva, located in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, is held from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal.

(with inputs from ANI)