2 devotees dead, 19 injured as bus falls into gorge in J&K’s Reasi

The accident took place near Taryath in the Ransu area around 12.30pm when the driver of the vehicle lost control while maneuvering a curve and rolled down over 50 feet into a gorge in Reasi

Two persons, including a boy, were killed and 19 others injured when a bus carrying pilgrims to Shiv Khori temple skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district on Saturday, officials said.

People gather near the bus that plunged into a gorge, in Reasi on Friday. (PTI)

The accident took place near Taryath in the Ransu area around 12.30pm when the driver of the vehicle lost control while maneuvering a curve and rolled down over 50 feet into a gorge, they said. The pilgrims hailing from the villages Jamola, Bindi, Argi and Dalhori of Rajouri district were on their way to the famous cave shrine of Shiv Khori in Reasi to offer prayers on the occasion of Mahashivratri festival, officials said.

A rescue operation was launched immediately and all the 21 devotees were rushed to a nearby public health centre, where two of them, Arpan Singh, 14, and Pankaj Kumar, 29, were declared brought dead, they said.

A total of 21 devotees were travelling in the bus which met the accident shortly after crossing into Reasi district from Rajouri, said station house officer, Dharamsal, inspector Manpreet Singh who supervised the rescue operation.

Twelve of the injured were referred to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital Jammu for specialised treatment, the SHO said.

Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the accident and directed the district administration to ensure best possible treatment to the injured.