SRINAGAR: At least 21 people were killed and more than 50 injured when the bus they were travelling in rolled down a deep gorge in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) on Thursday, police said.
The incident occurred when a bus transporting Hindu pilgrims from Haryana state to a shrine in Akhnoor, situated approximately 300 kilometers (185 miles) south of Srinagar, veered off a winding mountain road and plunged into a deep gorge.
According to media reports, the driver lost control of the vehicle along the twisting route, leading to a catastrophic accident. The cause of the driver’s loss of control has yet to be determined.
Among the casualties were three children, with the youngest victim being just nine years old.
Rescue teams are undertaking efforts to rescue survivors and provide medical assistance. A total of 54 injured persons were transported to a hospital in the city of Jammu for urgent treatment.
Images circulated on social media depicted the mangled wreckage of the bus amidst a densely forested area.
