At least 38 people have been killed and many others injured after a bus fell into a ditch in Jammu in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The accident took place in Doda district of Jammu area of the state on Wednesday morning.
Ramesh Kumar, commissioner of the Jammu branch of the Jammu and Kashmir state police department, told Indian media outlet NDTV that the bus was going from Kishtor to Batakot. The bus lost control and fell down about 300 feet while traveling on the highway near Asar area of Doda district. 38 passengers including the driver of the bus were killed on the spot.
Many of the injured are in critical condition. They have been sent to different hospitals in Kishtor and Doda, said Ramesh Kumar.
Soon after the accident, the local people initiated the rescue operation. Later the police also joined it.
Doda Senior Superintendent of Police Abdul Qayyum told the Indian media Hindustan Times from the scene, “17 people have been rescued alive after the accident. There were a total of 55 passengers in the bus, all of whom were injured. Many of them are seriously injured.
Indian Union Minister Jitendra Singh said in an interview that a military helicopter has started working there to take the seriously injured to the hospital.
Jammu Chief Administrator Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti have expressed deep grief over the incident.
