Jammu, Jan 27:
A devastating road accident on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) left four people dead on Tuesday morning. The incident, involving a speeding bus, occurred near the Sharda Mata area of Udhampur district, causing an immediate shutdown of regular traffic flow as emergency services rushed to the scene.
According to preliminary reports, the accident unfolded in two rapid stages:
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Initial Collision: A bus traveling toward Udhampur at high speed lost control and struck a motorcycle. The impact was so severe that both the rider and the pillion rider were killed instantly.
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Secondary Strike: Moments after hitting the motorcycle, the bus plowed into two mechanics. The victims were working on a stationary Mahindra load carrier parked on the shoulder of the highway. Both mechanics died on the spot from their injuries.
Local police arrived at the Sharda Mata site shortly after the alarm was raised. Authorities have confirmed that:
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Recovery: All four bodies have been recovered and shifted to a nearby hospital for medico-legal formalities and post-mortem examinations.
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Investigation: A case has been registered, and police are investigating whether mechanical failure or driver negligence was the primary cause of the high-speed collision.
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Traffic Impact: While the scene is being cleared, traffic on the sensitive Jammu–Srinagar artery has faced intermittent disruptions.
“The bus was allegedly being driven at a very high speed when it hit the motorcycle and subsequently the mechanics. We have initiated the necessary legal formalities,” a police official stated.
