30 killed in Jammu bus accident

JAMMU: Barely a week after 14 people were killed when an overloaded minibus careened into a 200-metre deep ravine, another minibus, bursting at the seams with passengers, plunged into a river in Poonch on Wednesday morning, killing at least 30 people and injuring 17. Seven of the injured were airlifted to Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu by IAF personnel.The toll is likely to go up as search operation is on, police said.
According to the police, the minibus was on its way from Surankot to Poonch town. The incident took place when the driver lost control of the vehicle at Kalai, 13 km out of Poonch, and the bus plunged into the river.
Armymen and villagers rushed to the spot. Rescuers had a tough time pulling the dead and injured out of the wreckage because the bus was completely mangled and the current of the flowing water was rather strong.
Given the lack of control by civil and police authorities, all traffic norms are usually thrown to the winds in far-flung inaccessible areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts. Over loading, to the extent of three times the authorised capacity, is the order of the day.
Poor condition of roads and badly maintained vehicles have added to the problem. The government on its part has been issuing directives and even threats to enforcement authorities but they have had no affect so far.