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Tourist Family Wiped Out in Tuesday's Bus Blast in Kashmir

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Aug 3: A family of four from the Indian state of Bihar had left their home on 28 Judy to enjoy the picturesque beauty in Kashmir, but three members of the family returned in coffins back to their home for last rites while the head of the family is still battling for life in the largest Srinagar hospital.

A doctor by profession, his wife and two of their sons left their home in Indian state of Bihar on July 28 to enjoy the picturesque beauty of Kashmir, once called Paradise on Earth. They had decided to spend some days in the meadows of the world famous health resort, Gulmarg. Thousands of Indian and foreign tourists visit Gulmarg annually to enjoy the landscape of the health resort.

However, the dreams of the doctor, Dr Ramjee Gupta and his family members were shattered after a blast in their bus Number JK14A/1536 near Nambal Chursoo, Awantipora in South Kashmir on Monday afternoon. The teenage boys of the doctor, namely Manu Kumar, 14, and Bunty Kumar were killed on the spot in the blast while Dr Ramjee Gupta and his wife identified as Manjoo Devi were critically injured in the explosion.

The husband and wife were removed to two different hospitals in Srinagar by the locals and police and were operated on by a team of doctors. After performing surgeries, the doctors attending on the duo termed their condition as "life threatening". Their condition was being closely monitored by the team of doctors.

However, despite best efforts of the medicos, the wife of the doctor, Manjoo Devi succumbed to her injuries in the hospital in Srinagar today. Sources said that her body was evacuated to her residence at Bihar.

Her husband doctor is still battling for life in one of the biggest hospitals in Srinagar. Although his condition has improved, doctors are still not terming his condition as "stable".

"It is a grave tragedy. Poor souls had come to enjoy life in the Valley and are returning back to their homes in coffins", said a doctor, who operated on the woman.

Meanwhile, police and investigating agencies are ascertaining the nature of the blast. A top police officer said that the samples collected from the spot are being analysed thoroughly to ascertain the cause and nature of the blast.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.