Kishtwar: Thirty three people have been killed and 22 injured after a mini bus fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Monday morning. The bus, which was on its way from Keshwan to Kishtwar, veered off the road and fell into the gorge at Sirgwari around 7:30 am, news agency PTI reported.
“Thirty three people have died and 22 injured after a matador vehicle coming from Keshwan to Kishtwar fell into a gorge, today,” Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar, Angrez Singh Rana told news agency ANI.
Relief and rescue operation is underway and the injured are being shifted to hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the accident heart-wrenching.
Home Minister Amit Shah and senior Jammu and Kashmir politicians Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah have also condoled the deaths.
Overloading, over-speeding and bad roads have led to tragic accidents in the hills of Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch districts in the past as well.
On June 27, 11 students of a private computer training institute died after their mini bus fell into a gorge in Pir Ki Gali area of the Mughal Road that connects the Rajouri-Poonch districts in the Jammu division.
Following this accident, authorities in Poonch district have banned all excursions by educational institutions unless specifically allowed by the district administration.
