THIRTY-SIX people were killed while 19 were injured after a bus fell into a gorge in Dodda district of the northern Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday (15).
The ill-fated bus carrying around 40 passengers skidded of the road near Trungal-Assar on the Batote-Kishtwar national highway and fell 300 feet downhill, official sources said. A rescue operation was underway and some bodies had been retrieved, they added.
"Saddened to share the update from DC #Doda Sh Harvinder Singh from the spot of the accident. Unfortunately 36 persons have died and 19 injured, out of whom 6 injured are serious," Indian science minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who hails from Jammu, said.
He added the injured were being shifted to government-run hospitals in Doda and Kishtwar.
The minister also said a helicopter service was being arranged to airlift the injured.
"Injured being shifted to District Hospital Kishtwar and GMC Doda as per requirement. Helicopter service to be arranged for shifting the more injured ones. All possible help, as required being provided," Singh said on X.
Prime minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences.
"The bus accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir is distressing. My condolences to the families who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest," the prime minister's office posted on X citing him as saying.
It added that the prime minister has said that a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each would be given to the families of those killed in the accident. Those injured will receive an assistance of Rs 50,000.
Indian home minister Amit Shah also condoled the deaths on X saying, "Deeply anguished to learn about the loss of precious lives due to a tragic bus accident at Doda, Jammu and Kashmir. The local administration is conducting the rescue operation in the gorge where the bus had the accident. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured."
Mehbooba Mufti, a former chief minister of Kashmir and a senior leader from the UT, condoled the deaths in a post on X.
"Deeply shocked & saddened about the tragic road accident at Assar in Doda. Deepest condolences to the families of those feared dead & hope the administration expedites rescue operations," she said on X.
(With PTI inputs)
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