33 killed, 7 injured as bus falls into deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar

33 passengers were killed and several injured after a bus fell into deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district. According to news agency ANI, a matador vehicle coming from Keshwan fell into a gorge. The injured have been brought to a nearby hospital. Local media reports said that the bus was on way to Kishtwar from Keshwan when it skidded on the road near Srigwari and fell into a deep gorge. Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Angrez Singh confirmed the death toll saying, “Thirty were killed and seven critically injured.”  Early reports suggest that the matador was overloaded. According to senior police official, the accident took place around 7:30 am when the bus skidded off the road at Sirgwari and rolled down into the gorge. Bodies of 20 passengers have been recovered so far, IGP Jammu MK Sinha said. Rescue operation is going on, he said.

Terrible news coming in about the high death toll in a bus accident in Kishtwar. Condolences to the families of the deceased & prayers for the swift recovery of the injured.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 1, 2019

 

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to express his anguish. “Terrible news coming in about the high death toll in a bus accident in Kishtwar. Condolences to the families of the deceased & prayers for the swift recovery of the injured,” Abdullah said on micro-blogging site.

 

Saddened to hear about the tragic accident in Kishtwar. Deepest condolences to families of the bereaved.

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) July 1, 2019

Mehboob Mufti, PDP chief and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, also expressed her sorrow. “Saddened to hear about the tragic accident in Kishtwar. Deepest condolences to families of the bereaved,” Mufti said on Twitter.