Eyewitnesses cite slippery, narrowed road; demand accountability
Srinagar, June 12: A school bus driver lost his life while two students sustained injuries after a school bus met with an accident in the Chadoora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday.
According to police officials, the school bus, belonging to IPTS School Khansahib, reportedly lost control and plunged into a deep gorge in the Neegu Jabbad area of Brenwar, Chadoora.
The driver died on the spot due to the impact of the crash. Two students travelling in the bus suffered multiple injuries and were initially shifted to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Chadoora for medical treatment. Later, both injured students were referred to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, Srinagar, for specialized care.
Soon after the incident, local residents, police personnel, and rescue teams rushed to the site and launched a rescue operation.
Police have registered a case under FIR No. 78/2026 at Police Station Chadoora under Sections 281 and 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further investigation has been initiated.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan, along with Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Budgam, Hariprasad K.K visited SMHS Hospital Srinagar, to inquire about the condition of the injured students.
During the visit, the DC met the injured children and their attendants and reviewed the medical treatment being provided to them.
The DC directed the hospital authorities to ensure that the children receive the best possible medical care and all necessary assistance during their recovery.
Meanwhile, residents of Neegu Brenwar in Chadoora tehsil of central Kashmir’s Budgam district blamed the poor condition of the road, allegedly worsened by ongoing construction activity, for the school bus accident.
An eyewitness, Tariq Ahmad, who said he was driving behind the bus at the time of the incident, alleged that work on a protection bund being executed by a contractor had left large amounts of mud spread across the road.
“The construction activity had narrowed the road and made the surface slippery. As the school bus was crossing that stretch, the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled into a deep gorge in front of my eyes,” Ahmad said.
He said he immediately alerted the Station House Officer (SHO) Chadoora, following which police and rescue teams reached the spot within about 20 minutes.
According to Ahmad, the driver died in the accident while two schoolchildren sustained injuries.
Following the incident, local residents raised concerns over the condition of the road and alleged that sufficient safeguards had not been put in place to ensure commuter safety during the ongoing work.
They urged the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident and fix responsibility.
“The road had become narrow and hazardous because of mud accumulation from the construction work. Authorities must ensure proper safety measures are implemented while such works are being carried out,” residents said.
