Jammu, Feb 16 (KMW):Thirteen people were killed and 27 injured when the bus in which they were travelling plunged into a deep gorge at the mountainous Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official here said.
“Thirteen people were killed and 27 injured, ten of them critically, when their mini-bus, on way to Ramban from Banihal, skidded off the road and fell into an 800-feet deep gorge at Battery Chashma this afternoon at around 1545 hrs,” he added.
Rescue operation was immediately launched while the injured were shifted to the hospital.
“Thirteen passengers died on the spot while ten of them seriously wounded have been airlifted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu for treatment,” said the official.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed grief over the road accident.
The Chief Minister conveyed his sympathy and condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls and early recovery of the injured.
Mr Abdullah had also sanctioned relief of Rs one lakh each for the deceased and Rs 10,000 for the injured.
However, CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Tarigami criticised the government for not taking remedial measures in preventing the accidents on the national highway.
“A House Committee headed by me had also submitted the report regarding accident prone areas, specially in erstwhile Doda district, however action has not been taken yet,” said Mr Tarigami.
