10 dead as bus carrying pilgrims plunges into gorge in Jammu

Kathmandu: A bus fell into a gorge after skidding off a bridge in Jammu district of India, killing 10 persons and injuring over 50.

‘Ten people died and around 55 are injured. All have been evacuated. The rescue operation is almost complete. The SDRF team is also present on the spot,’ ANI quoted SSP Jammu, Chandan Kohli as saying. The SSP further added that the bus was carrying more passengers than the prescribed limit and all this will be probed.

The bus was on its way to Katra and had pilgrims from outside Jammu and Kashmir who were going to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The incident took place near Jhajjar Kotli – about 15km from Katra in Jammu district. The famous shrine is located on top of Trikuta hills and Katra is the base camp for the visitors.

The rescue operation was launched by local residents and police who reached the spot. The injured were taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu.

A Rajasthan-bound bus carrying Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims overturned in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district on May 21, resulting in the death of a 27-year-old woman and injury of 24 people.