Heartfelt Condolences and Call for Action: JKTA & JKECC Mourn Loss of Students in Tragic Bus Accident:Shah Fayaz
Srinagar April 12 (PTK) In a heartbreaking incident that has shaken the entire educational community, two college students tragically lost their lives in a devastating bus accident near Handwara earlier today. The students, from Degree College Sogam, Kupwara, were on an academic trip when the unfortunate mishap occurred. Several other students sustained injuries, some of them critical, prompting a wave of grief and concern across Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Teachers’ Association (JKTA) and President of Jammu Kashmir Employees Coordination Committee (JKECC), Mr. Shah Fayaz, expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with the bereaved families and the injured students. In an emotional condolence message titled “A Day of Irreparable Loss, A Call for Collective Compassion,” Mr. Fayaz called the incident a dark day for the educational fraternity.
“It is with a heart weighed down by unspeakable sorrow that I express my deepest condolences and anguish over the tragic bus accident involving the students of Degree College Sogam. This is a loss beyond words — a loss of young dreams, of hopes, of futures,” he said.
Among the victims was Tabassum Mushtaq, remembered by peers and teachers as a bright, ambitious student with dreams as vast as the skies — dreams now silenced forever. Mr. Fayaz emphasized the shared grief felt by the teaching community across the Union Territory.
“Your loss is our loss. We stand beside the grieving families not just in sympathy but in solidarity, offering every shoulder for your tears and every heart for your sorrow,” he added.
He also extended heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured students, many of whom are undergoing treatment, and urged authorities to ensure the best medical and psychological support for them.
Calling for concrete measures to prevent such tragedies in the future, Mr. Fayaz appealed to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor and concerned departments to immediately sanction relief for the affected families. He emphasized that the issue goes beyond compensation — it is about dignity, justice, and humanity.
“Let this tragedy not be another passing headline. Let it move our hearts, shake our systems, and compel us toward stronger measures for student safety, especially during educational excursions,” he urged.
Call for Safety Reforms and Awareness Campaign
Reiterating the urgent need for systemic reform, Mr. Fayaz stressed that the safety of children must be the top priority. He urged the government to review and strengthen school and college transport guidelines, conduct mandatory safety audits, enforce strict compliance with safety norms, and ensure regular fitness checks of school buses.
In light of the tragic incident, JKTA and JKECC announced the launch of a comprehensive road safety awareness campaign aimed at school and college drivers as well as transport operators. The campaign will focus on educating drivers about safe driving practices, adherence to safety protocols, and creating a culture of responsibility and accountability in educational transportation.
As the region mourns the untimely loss of two bright young lives, the call from JKTA and JKECC resonates with a deeper message — one of compassion, unity, and the urgent need for reform. The organizations hope this collective grief will galvanize action, ensuring that no such tragedy is repeated in the future.(PTK)
