Udhampur, Jan 27: A devastating head-on collision between a passenger bus and a stationary vehicle on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Jhakhani bridge in Udhampur district claimed four lives and left several injured on Tuesday, officials confirmed.
The accident occurred when a bus (JK02AS-4127) traveling from Chenani collided with a parked Mahindra Tata Mobile vehicle (JK04J-6732). Three civilians who were changing the vehicle’s tyre on the roadside were killed instantly at the scene.
According to police officials, the bus driver attempted to avoid a motorcycle on the highway, causing the vehicle to ram into the stationary Tata Mobile. The collision’s force was so severe that the three civilians working near the vehicle were thrown off the Jhakhani bridge. Their bodies were later retrieved by police personnel.
A CRPF jawan from the 52 Battalion, posted in Kishtwar, also lost his life in the crash. The personnel was reportedly traveling home on leave when the tragedy occurred.
Multiple passengers sustained injuries in the accident and were rushed to Government Medical College Udhampur for medical treatment. Hospital officials stated that the condition of some injured passengers is being closely monitored.
Police teams arrived promptly at the accident site to conduct rescue operations and restore traffic flow on the busy highway stretch. Authorities have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the fatal collision.
