New Delhi, 20 April (H.S.):

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic bus accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, in which 16 people lost their lives and 20 others were injured.

In her message, President Murmu said she was deeply saddened to learn about the deaths caused by the accident. Extending her condolences to the bereaved families, she prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Prime Minister Modi also said he was devastated by the loss of lives in the Udhampur bus mishap. He conveyed his sympathies to the grieving families and wished the injured a swift and complete recovery.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund will be given to the next of kin of each person killed in the accident. The injured will receive financial assistance of Rs 50,000.

The accident took place on Monday when a passenger bus skidded off a hilly road and plunged down a slope in Udhampur district. Rescue and relief operations were launched immediately after the incident.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar