Jammu, 22-04-2026: Col SS Pathania (Retd), Chief Convener of Sainik Samaj Party JKUT, has expressed deep grief and anguish over the tragic road accident in Udhampur in which 22 precious lives were lost and several others sustained injuries. He prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls, conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the mishap.
Describing the incident as deeply disturbing and unacceptable, Pathania said accidents of such magnitude, involving such heavy loss of life, demand serious and immediate attention from the government. He urged the Chief Minister to order a high-level judicial probe into the tragedy so that the actual circumstances leading to the accident are brought before the public in a transparent and time-bound manner.
He said the inquiry must clearly fix responsibility for any lapse or negligence and ensure that those found guilty are given exemplary punishment. He observed that road accidents in hilly and mountainous areas have become alarmingly frequent, yet very little visible corrective action appears to have been taken to prevent their recurrence.
Pathania stressed that standard operating procedures for passenger transport and driving safety must be clearly laid down, strictly enforced and regularly monitored through an effective mechanism. He said such accidents are often caused by a combination of factors including mechanical failure, human error, overloading and overspeeding. Referring to media reports, he said indications suggest that overloading and rash or negligent driving may have contributed to the Udhampur accident, but added that the real reasons can only be established through a thorough and impartial investigation.
He further said that ensuring the safety of citizens is the responsibility of the government and there should be no room for administrative failure in matters involving public lives. He also appealed to the government to extend immediate relief to the affected families. He demanded that in cases where the head of the family has died in the accident, one eligible family member should be provided a government job at the earliest to help reduce the immense suffering caused by the tragedy.
Pathania also urged that the admissible ex gratia relief must reach the victims and their families without delay and without getting trapped in procedural hurdles. He said the response to such tragedies must not remain limited to expressions of sympathy alone, but should include accountability, timely compensation and firm preventive measures to ensure that such painful incidents do not recur.