Jammu, Aug 10: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Monday stated that the government would order a probe into the cause of the mini-bus accident on August 9 night in Jammu, leaving around 34 persons, including over 25 girls, injured.
Meanwhile, the Police on Monday arrested the driver, who had gone absconding after the accident and the owner of the vehicle.
“The matter needs to be investigated as to how the NGO which brought young girls, not students but pass-outs, for its programme without adequate arrangements. How was it allowed to accommodate 34 persons, including the young girls, almost double the capacity of the mini-bus? The government will order a probe to ascertain all these facts and cause behind the accident, which took place where there was no scope for it to occur,” Sakeena Itoo told the media persons, following her visit to GMC Jammu to enquire about the well-being of injured girl students under treatment there.
The accident, according to officials, occurred when around 35 persons, including over 25 girls, travelling in mini-bus, bearing registration number JK02BE-4479, were returning after attending a programme under ‘Project Naari Veerangana’ of some BJP-affiliated NGO, in Jammu and the driver lost control over the wheels at flyover on Sunday night.
The mini-bus was seized by Police after the accident, which was reported to be caused by negligent, rash driving besides overloading.
“On the directions of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, I came here to ask about the well-being of 34 injured who were brought to GMC Jammu after an accident on Sunday night. Some surgeries were performed yesterday and this morning also some surgeries were being performed. There were some fracture cases also. But thankfully all the injured are stable,” she said. Itoo during her visit took detailed stock of the health condition and treatment being provided to girls injured in road accident yesterday evening. She went around the hospital wards and interacted with the injured girls, enquiring about their well-being, medical treatment and facilities being extended to them.
Itoo also interacted with the attending doctors and hospital authorities and sought a detailed briefing on the nature of injuries and the treatment plan being followed in each case.
The Minister directed the GMC administration and medical teams to ensure the best possible treatment, round-the-clock monitoring and comprehensive medical care to all the injured. She stressed that all necessary medical resources should be mobilised to facilitate their speedy recovery.
“The health and well-being of every injured girl is our foremost concern. The government stands firmly with the affected families in this difficult time. Every possible facility will be made available to ensure their best possible treatment”, the Minister said.
She further directed the doctors and concerned officers to maintain continuous monitoring of the condition of critically injured patients and ensure timely intervention wherever required.
“There must be no lapse in patient care and every injured girl should receive prompt and quality treatment, with special attention to those in critical condition”, she said.
Itoo also asked the hospital authorities to ensure proper coordination among various departments and availability of medicines, diagnostics, surgical facilities and other requisite support for the injured.
She expressed hope that all the injured girls would recover at the earliest and assured that the Health Department would extend all necessary support to the patients and their families.
During the visit, the hospital administration apprised the Minister of the treatment arrangements and the medical condition of the injured, assuring that dedicated teams of doctors and paramedical staff were attending to them.
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