LG, CM express grief
JAMMU, SEPTEMBER 14: Two people were killed and seven others injured when a passenger minibus overturned near the Batalgala Tunnel on the Reasi-Bakkal road in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district on Monday.
Officials said the minibus, bearing registration number JK14B-2973, was travelling from Bakkal towards Reasi when the accident occurred. Police and rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The identities of the deceased and injured were being ascertained. Police have taken cognisance of the incident and initiated necessary proceedings.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the loss of lives and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed deep grief over the accident and directed the authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured.
Road accidents remain a major public safety concern in Jammu and Kashmir, with official data identifying over-speeding as one of the leading causes of fatalities. Other contributing factors include violation of traffic rules, distracted driving, dangerous overtaking, poor road conditions and inadequate safety infrastructure, particularly on hilly and treacherous stretches.
Safety concerns are particularly acute on mountainous routes, where narrow roads, inadequate guardrails and signage, unsafe turns and unauthorised access points can increase the risk of serious accidents.
