Srinagar: Governor NN Vohra, who is also Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, expressed grief over the deaths of 16 Amarnath pilgrims in an accident near Ramban after their bus plunged into a gorge.

Srinagar: Governor NN Vohra, who is also Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, expressed grief over the deaths of 16 Amarnath pilgrims in an accident near Ramban after their bus plunged into a gorge.

He flew to Banihal along with Chief Secretary BB Vyas, DGP SP Vaid and board CEO Umang Narula to oversee to the rescue operations being carried out by the Ramban district administration with the help of the Indian Air Force.

According to the Governor’s directions to the Chief Secretary, the seriously injured pilgrims were evacuated to Jammu through IAF helicopters. He met the doctors and enquired about the medical treatment given to the yatris before they were airlifted.

The Governor also visited the Banihal Sub-District Hospital and directed that the bodies of the 16 pilgrims be transported to Jammu from where after embalming and other formalities, the bodies would be sent by the civil airlines to the hometowns of the deceased.

Appreciating prompt relief provided by local NGO “Youth against Evils, Banihal”, who rescued the injured pilgrims, in co-ordination with the district administration, the Governor sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for the NGO for strengthening their humanitarian endeavours.

On behalf of the Shrine Board, he announced relief of Rs 3 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased in the incident and Rs 1 lakh each to those who had suffered injuries. The Governor also directed Vyas, who was accompanying him, to immediately ensure that no SRTC bus was deployed on long distance duty, particularly across Banihal, which has not been thoroughly checked and certified fit for operation by a responsible ranking SRTC officer.