Jammu Tawi, May 16: A sticky bomb triggered the blaze on a bus full of pilgrims last week when it was on the way to Jammu from Katra in Reasi district. Four pilgrims were killed in the blaze following an explosion caused the bomb which “was attached near the fuel tank” of the bus,” sources told a TV network.
The disclosure is likely to give more headaches to the central security establishment as well as J&K's security agencies with the Amarnath Yatra set to begin in Kashmir on June 30 and culminate on August 11.
Following the tragic death of four passengers, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team on Saturday inspected the bus that was gutted in the mysterious fire incident near Katra town.
A senior police official said the team of NIA arrived in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the sacred Hindu shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Reasi district, from Delhi and visited the spot at around 3.30 PM on Saturday.
The team also collected samples during their 90 minute inspection of the ill-fated bus. “The team was briefed by a senior police officer about the incident,” sources said.
Four pilgrims were killed and 24 others injured, some of them critically, when the bus, which was mostly carrying devotees from the shrine to Jammu, was engulfed in flames near Nomai, about two miles from Katra. Some passengers were reported to have jumped out of moving bus to escape the blaze.
Police said the passenger bus was surrounded by flames after leaving for Jammu from the base camp on Friday. The injured victims and the local residing in the vicinity of the tragic incident had spoken about hearing an explosion when the vehicle caught fire.
Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh visited the scene of the incident and had initially dismissed the use of explosive, saying that the initial investigation doesn't suggest any foul play. “The cause of the fire is not confirmed yet,” the ADGP had told media persons, adding that a FSL team was looking into it.
J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha had expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs one lakh to the seriously injured.
The passenger bus bearing registration number JK14-1831 was carrying pilgrims from Jammu to Katra when it caught fire near the Kharmal area of Katra. Before the flames could be doused, the bus was badly gutted.
The injured passengers were shifted to the nearest hospital for treatment by the police and locals. “Out of more than two dozen injured, two more succumbed to their injuries, taking the death toll to four,” said ADGP Jammu, Mukesh Singh.
Vaishno Devi Tragedy- Sticky bomb caused killing: FSL
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