As many as ten people were killed and over 55 injured when a bus skidded off a bridge and fell into a gorge in Jammu district, officials said Tuesday.
According to officials, the bus was on its way to Katra when the accident took place in Jajjar Kotli area.
The bus was carrying pilgrims from outside Jammu and Kashmir to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Katra is the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the famous shrine atop Trikuta hills.
"We are trying to provide the best possible care to the injured. 10 people have died and three are critically injured," said J&K DGP Dilbagh Singh after visiting those injured at the hospital.
"All injured are being medically treated, they are being extended all help," said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jammu Chandan Kohli said that all the passengers have been evacuated from the spot.
Local residents and police rushed to the spot and launched the rescue operation. The SDRF team was also present at the spot for rescue operations.
The injured were taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu.
On May 21, a 27-year-old woman was killed and 24 people were injured when a Rajasthan-bound bus carrying Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims overturned in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district.
(With PTI inputs)
