news details |
|
|
| Ramnagar bus tragedy: CM Omar blames owner’s negligence, vows strict action | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 21: Asserting to take strict action against the culprits, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that the tragic road accident at village Kaghot in Udhampur district was a result of the negligence of the owner of the ill-fated bus.
“The accident occurred because the regular driver handed over the bus to a truck driver while on leave”, the Chief Minister said while explaining the cause of the tragedy, and assured strict action after an investigation.
The tragic road accident in Kaghot village of Ramnagar tehsil in Udhampur district on April 20, which claimed 21 lives and left around 60 others injured, has sent shockwaves across the region.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday visited the Auxiliary Hospital at Government Medical College (GMC) Udhampur to inquire about the condition of the injured. He also met their families and directed officials to ensure the best possible medical care, with continuous monitoring of patients. Health Minister Sakina Itoo and Transport Minister Satish Sharma were also present during the visit.
Describing the loss of lives as deeply regrettable, the Chief Minister said preliminary findings point towards negligence on the part of the bus owner. He revealed that the vehicle was not being driven by its regular driver at the time of the accident.
“The regular driver was on leave, and the owner allowed another person—who had reportedly been driving a truck until recently—to operate the bus,” he told reporters.
Abdullah asserted that the government would not hesitate to take action in such cases, adding that the bus in question already had a record indicating serious violations. He said the administration has been consistently acting against breaches of transport regulations.
The Chief Minister informed that the Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur has ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident, which is being conducted by a senior. He assured that strict action would follow based on the findings of the investigation, and that the recommendations of the inquiry report would be implemented to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Ruling out poor road conditions as a cause of the accident, Abdullah said that reckless driving remains the primary concern. “If the road condition had been poor, the vehicle would have been driven at a slower speed. The real issue is overspeeding, overloading, and dangerous driving practices, including driving in the wrong direction,” he said.
He emphasized that while the administration must balance enforcement with public transportation needs, violations of safety norms will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The Chief Minister also urged bus owners and drivers to act responsibly and avoid practices that endanger lives. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
