28 Women Injured as Mini-Bus Carrying Tiranga Yatra Participants Overturns in Jammu

At least 28 women were injured after a mini-bus carrying participants of a Tiranga Yatra overturned on the Shakuntala flyover near the Super Speciality Hospital in Jammu on Sunday night, officials said.

The women, aged 18 to 25 years, were returning after taking part in the Tiranga Yatra from Bahu Fort to Mubarak Mandi. They were rushed to Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Jammu for treatment.

The women were part of the ‘Nari Veerangana’ project, an initiative involving some BJP-affiliated NGOs that aims to empower women and encourage them to take part in social work while promoting traditional and cultural values.

The participants had undergone nearly three months of training before attending the final programme at Mubarak Mandi.

After the programme, the group had dinner and left for their respective destinations when the mini-bus overturned.

Senior BJP leader and Jammu East MLA Yudhvir Sethi visited the injured at the hospital along with other BJP leaders. He said most of the women were stable and were likely to be discharged by Monday morning. Two women were said to need further medical care.

However, a fresh report on Monday said three of the injured were critically hurt, making the medical condition of some victims more serious than initially reported.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concern over the accident and wished the injured a speedy recovery. His office said the women had received prompt medical attention and were reported to be out of danger. He also directed officials to ensure they received all necessary treatment and assistance.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Sakina Itoo has ordered an inquiry into the accident. The probe will look into the circumstances surrounding the mini-bus overturning.

The exact cause of the accident has not yet been made public.