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Updated: Jul 01, 2019 13:02 IST

At least 35 people were killed and 17 others were injured when an overloaded mini bus veered off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday morning.

“Thirty five people have died and 17 others were injured when a mini bus bearing registration number JK 17/6787 met with an accident in Keshwan area Kishtwar district on Monday. The accident occurred near Sirgwari,” said Kishtwar deputy magistrate Angrez Singh Rana. He said the exact cause of the accident remains a subject of investigation but the mini bus was overloaded. Helicopters have been requisitioned from Jammu to evacuate the seriously injured for specialised medical treatment at GMC Jammu, he added.

Kishtwar is around 230 Kms from Jammu.

Kishtwar SSP, Shakti Pathak said, “The condition of road was bad and the vehicle was apparently overloaded. It seems driver lost the control on a curve and the vehicle rolled down into a gorge. Twenty of the passengers died on the spot and there were more deaths of the injured at district hospital.”

Locals were the first responders to the accident. The injured have been shifted to District Hospital Kishtwar, the local added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in Kishtwar accident. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, “The accident in Jammu and Kashmir’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.” Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “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.’’

Jammu & Kashmir Governor, Satya Pal Malik has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased and directed the administration to provide best medical treatment to the injured in Kishtwar road accident.

Expressing anguish, Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Terrible news coming in about the high death toll in a bus accident in Kishtwar. Condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers for the swift recovery of the injured.”

Mehbooba Mufti also tweeted, “Saddened to hear about the tragic accident in Kishtwar. Deepest condolences to families of the bereaved.”

On June 27, 11 students from Poonch died in a road accident on Mughal Road when an overspeeding Tempo Traveller skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge. Among the 11 dead, nine were girls.

The students were on an excursion from Surankote tehsil in Poonch district to Mugal road.