Jammu: A devastating bus accident in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir resulted in the deaths of four individuals and left 42 others injured on Tuesday.

According to officials, the bus was involved in an accident near Ghani Mendhar while transporting passengers.

Two passengers tragically lost their lives at the scene, while two others later died in the hospital where they were taken for medical care.

Emergency services were promptly mobilized following the accident report.

Local residents initiated a rescue effort, supported by police, Indian Army, and CRPF personnel.

Among the deceased was an Army member from the 41 Assam Rifles, identified as Abdul Majeed, son of Abdul Aziz, a resident of Ghani Mendhar.

The bus was en route from Ghani village to Mendhar town when the driver reportedly lost control, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and plunge into a gorge. Authorities have acknowledged the incident.

Factors such as speeding, overloading, aggressive driving, and poor road conditions in the hilly regions of Jammu, including Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Reasi, are often cited as causes of road accidents.

Traffic officials have deployed special teams to monitor and address the primary causes of these accidents, focusing on traffic rule violations.

Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) have implemented strict penalties for offenders, including vehicle seizures, cancellation of registrations and licenses, and potential imprisonment for parents who permit their underage children to operate vehicles.

In the past four months, traffic authorities in Srinagar and Jammu have confiscated over 6,000 vehicles, including motorcycles and three-wheelers, for traffic violations.

In addition to punitive actions, authorities are providing counseling to two-wheeler riders and distributing helmets to reduce fatalities from head injuries.

Filling stations across Jammu and Kashmir have been instructed not to sell fuel to two-wheeler riders who arrive without wearing crash helmets.