Samba, Aug 21
A tragic bus accident on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway claimed one life and left 40 others injured on Thursday morning near the Jatwal area of J&K's Samba district.
The incident occurred when a private passenger bus, ferrying devotees from Kathua to the sacred town of Katra, lost control after a reported tyre burst. The bus veered off the highway and plunged nearly 30 feet from a bridge near Jatwal, crashing into a dry canal bed below.
One pilgrim, identified as Iqwal Singh from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, died on the spot. Around 40 other passengers sustained injuries in the accident. Emergency services responded swiftly, and the injured were rushed to District Hospital Samba, where they received first aid. Doctors later referred eight critically injured passengers to AIIMS Vijaypur for treatment.
Police and administrative teams immediately reached the scene to carry out rescue and relief operations. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Eyewitnesses and survivors recounted moments of terror.