Sleeper Bus Crash on Mangat–Jaipur–Bikaner Highway Kills 3; Several Pilgrims Injured

A deadly collision on the Mangat–Jaipur–Bikaner highway early on Tuesday left three passengers dead and about eighteen others injured after a sleeper bus carrying pilgrims was severely struck, officials said. The impact crushed the vehicle’s front section, leaving many travellers trapped; rescue teams worked at the scene to extricate victims and rush the critically wounded to nearby hospitals. Authorities reported that seven of the injured are in serious condition and receiving intensive care. The bus was carrying devotees from Gujarat who had visited the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and were returning after attending a Khatushyam darshan. Local police reached the accident site swiftly to coordinate rescue operations, secure the area and divert traffic. Medical teams and first responders administered immediate aid before transferring casualties to tertiary care centres for further treatment. An inquiry has been launched to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators will inspect the vehicle’s condition, review the driver’s log and interview survivors and witnesses to establish whether speed, driver error, mechanical failure or another vehicle contributed to the collision. District officials said families of the deceased have been notified and relief measures are being organised while the probe continues