Bus Carrying Vaishno Devi Pilgrims Catches Fire In Katra, Four Dead, 20 Injured

NEW DELHI –  Four Pilgrims were killed and 20 others injured on Friday after a local bus from Katra to Jammu caught fire. According to reports, the bus, on its way to Jammu from Katra, caught fire near Nomai, about 3 kilometers from Katra. “As per preliminary details, bus caught fire from the engine area which soon engulfed the whole bus,” ADGP Jammu said.

Confirming the deaths, Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh said initial probe does not point to use of any explosive. Katra is the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine.

As per the Police, out of the total injured, three were referred to specialised treatment.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh has promised every assistance to those killed and injured in the incident. “Immediately after receiving information of Bus mishap at #Katra, just now spoke to Deputy Commissioner, #Reasi (J&K),Ms Babila Rakhwal. 2 casualties reported, injured shifted to Naraina Hospital.All possible help, financially and otherwise, will be provided to the injured,” the minister tweeted.

Earlier in April, a bus skidded off the road in Ramnagar’s Uddak area in Jammu & Kashmir, killing two travellers and leaving twenty-five injured critically and are referred to district hospital Udhampur, said Sub-Divisional Police Officer Ramnagar, Bhishm Dubey.

In a different episode, a driver was killed when his vehicle folded down into a deep gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway close to Khooni Nalla in Ramban area, the officials said, adding the body of the deceased was recuperated by police and civilian volunteers and is being identified.

In another incident, Shazia Akhtar (27) of Budhal was killed and her family members Mohammad Ikhlaq and his wife Nazia Kousar were injured when their private car plunged into a gorge at Tralla Rehan in the Rajouri-Kotranka street in Rajouri area, the authorities said.