17 injured in the accident; 27-seater bus was coming from Keshwan to Kishtwar town

Thirty-five passengers were killed and 17 injured on Monday morning when an overloaded minibus failed to negotiate a curve on the hilly track of Kishtwar at Sorgwari and fell into a gorge.

“The minibus was overloaded with passengers. Initial reports suggest that the driver was driving fast,” said the Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar, Angrez Singh Rana. A case had been registered, he added.

The 27-seater bus was coming from Keshwan to Kishtwar town in the morning, said an official.

Helicopters were pressed into service to lift the bodies and the injured to hospitals in Jammu. At least two critically injured were moved to the Jammu government hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet, “The accident in J&K's Kishtwar is heart-wrenching. We mourn all those who lost their lives and express condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest.”

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased. He also directed Transport Department officials to take away unfit vehicles and untrained drivers off the road.

“Most of the accidents take place due to careless and untrained drivers who drive without any regard for rules and regulations and become reason for loosing so many precious lives,” he said.

Schools were closed and business activities stopped as a mark of condolence and protest against overcrowding in buses in Kishtwar.

Hurriyat leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani expressed their condolences to the bereaved families.

PTI adds:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed sorrow over the deaths. “Extremely saddened to learn about the loss of lives due to a road accident in Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones. I pray of the speedy recovery of those injured,” he tweeted.