Akhnoor Accident Aftermath | Govt suspends 6 officials, initiates in-depth enquiry

Srinagar, May 31: The government on Friday suspended six officials including a Motor Vehicle Inspector posted at Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Kathua, and attached them to the office of Transport Commissioner, J&K, Jammu, with immediate effect.

The move comes after 22 yatris mainly from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, on the way to Shivkhori shrine in Reasi district were killed and 60 others were injured when the bus, they were travelling in, fell into a deep gorge near Tanda in the Akhnoor area of Jammu district on Thursday.

The dead included six children and eight women while the injured included 17 children and 29 women.

The government has initiated an inquiry, and the appointed Inquiry Officer (IO) has been directed to conduct an in-depth enquiry and submit the report along with recommendations for the conduct and dereliction and non-performance of duties on the part of officers and officials within one week positively.

“Pending enquiry into the conduct and dereliction of duties, the following officials posted in the office of Regional Transport Officer, Kathua (HQ Lakhanpur) are placed under suspension with immediate effect and are attached in the office of Transport Commissioner, J&K Jammu,” an order copy reads. “Those suspended include Ranjeev Bhasin, Motor Vehicle Inspector; Sumit Magotra, Junior Assistant; Ashwani Kumar, MTS; Aman Kumar, MTS; Keshav Singh, MTS; and Rakesh Kumar, MTS.”

The order read: “Consequent upon the above, Shri Parmvir Singh, Additional Secretary (Technical), Secretariat of Road Safety Council, J&K is appointed as Inquiry Officer who will conduct in-depth enquiry for non performance of their legitimate duties. The Inquiry Officer shall submit the enquiry report along with recommendations for the conduct/dereliction and non-performance of duties on the part of officers and officials within a week positively.”