JAMMU, June 14: Three tourists from Haryana were killed and two others injured after their car collided with a bus on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway near IIM Jammu at Jagti area on the intervening night of June 13-14.
Officials said the accident occurred at around 1:08 am when a Hyundai Creta bearing registration number HR29BB2127, travelling towards Jammu, collided with a bus bearing registration number JK02AJ9933 that was heading towards Udhampur.
The occupants of the car were returning to Haryana after a five-day trip to Ladakh and Kashmir, they said.
Officials said all five persons travelling in the car sustained injuries and were shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu for treatment, where two of them were declared as dead on arrival, while another succumbed to injuries during treatment.
The deceased were identified as Sikander Saifi, son of Basir Ahmed, Shakti, and Mohit Verma, son of Sunil Verma, all residents of Ballabhgarh in Haryana.
The injured were identified as Deepak Verma (25), son of Manoj Verma, a resident of Ballabhgarh, Haryana, and Kuldeep Sharma, son of Inderpal Sharma, a resident of Bahudutt. Both are undergoing treatment at GMC Jammu.
Police said the driver of the bus fled from the spot after the accident.
According to them, a case FIR number 153/2026 under sections 281, 125(a) and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered at Police Station Nagrota and a manhunt has been launched to trace and arrest the absconding driver.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and injured have been informed, police said.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and wished speedy recovery to those injured
In a condolence message, Sinha conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families, prayed for the early recovery of the injured and directed the district administration to provide all necessary assistance to the affected families”, he said.
“Deeply grieved to learn about the loss of precious lives in a tragic road accident near Jagti, Nagrota. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the early recovery of the inured. I have directed the district administration to provide all necessary assistance to the affected families,” he said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
He prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
The Chief Minister also directed the concerned authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment and care for the injured and prayed for strength to the families affected by the tragedy.
