36 dead after bus falls into a gorge in J&K's Doda

36 people were killed and 19 injured when a bus carrying passengers skidded off the road and rolled down into a 300-foot gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Wednesday.

The bus bearing registration number JK02CN-6555 was reportedly carrying around 40 passengers, officials said, adding that it skidded off the road near Trungal-Assar on the Batote-Kishtwar national highway and fell 300 feet downhill, reported PTI.

A rescue operation has been launched and some bodies have been retrieved, they added. Due to the fall from a considerable height, the bus has got badly damaged, PTI sources said.


Injured being shifted to District Hospital Kishtwar and GMC Doda as per requirement, said Union Minister Jitendra Singh.
"Helicopter service to be arranged for shifting the more injured ones. All possible help, as required being provided," he said in a tweet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the tragic accident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PM's National Relief Fund to the next of the kin of each of deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

(With agency inputs)