The bus had started from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh and had reached Tanda area of Akhnoor in Jammu via Kurukshetra in Haryana, when it veered off the road while negotiating a turn, and rolled 150 feet down into the ravine at Tungi Morh near Chowki Chowra around 12.35 pm, officials said.
Police personnel and locals rushed to the spot and evacuated the injured to Akhnoor sub-district hospital. Later, Army also joined the rescue operation. The injured were later shifted to Govt Medical College and Hospital in Jammu, police said.
Of the 15 deceased identified till late evening, six were from Hathras district and nine from Naya village in neighbouring Aligarh district. Police are trying to ascertain the identities of the remaining seven.
Condoling the loss of lives in the “heart-rending” incident, LG Manoj Sinha announced ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured, and directed the administration to provide all possible support to the bereaved families and medical facilities to the injured.
PM Narendra Modi also announced Rs 2 lakh to the families of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. In a message on X handle of PMO India, he said: “Anguished by the loss of lives due to a bus mishap in Akhnoor. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover soon.”
Officials in UP said most of the passengers on the ill-fated bus belonged to Hathras and Aligarh districts. The administration of the two districts are in touch with the authorities in Jammu.
Hathras DM Archana Verma said a team had been sent to Jammu to assist the injured and update the district administration.
Aligarh SDM Mahima Rajput said according to the information received by officials, the maximum number of victims belonged to Naya village in the district as 40 devotees from the village had boarded the bus. However, “authentic” information from the Jammu authorities was still awaited, she added.
The Jammu administration has set up helplines for assistance and queries regarding the bus tragedy. District magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya shared the numbers in a post on X: DM office 9622699666, 9419160547; SP office 9419172197, 9419194102, 9596869639; medical 9419190500, 9419190493.
The Hathras administration also shared two helpline numbers 05722227041-05722227042 for any help or information regarding the incident.