Bus accident: Five bodies found, search on for rest 45 passengers

JAMMU: Five bodies were today found while a search was on for 45 other missing passengers after a bus carrying them was washed away in flood waters in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.

Five bodies of the passengers have been found from flooded Gambir Nallah, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Rajouri Mubasir Lattifee said.

The bus carrying 50 people, mostly members of the marriage party, including the bride and groom was crossing the Laam-Darhal-Moushera Road when it got washed away in the flash floods in Gambhir river, yesterday.

The search and rescue operation launched by Army and the police have been intensified to find the whereabouts of the rest of the passengers.

An Army unit, which immediately reached the spot after the mishap, rescued four people who had jumped off the bus, he said, adding that those rescued include the driver and conductor of the bus.

The Army has immediately rushed a rescue column with specialist engineer staff, recovery vehicle, medical van to retrieve individuals almost all of whom are feared dead, officer said in a statement here, yesterday.

The four survivors have already been administered first aid. The driver told the Army team that there were nearly 50 people in the bus, the officer said, adding that Army launched an operation to search and rescue the victims soon after the mishap.

Confirming that 50 people are feared dead, SSP Latiffee, who also rushed to the spot along with a police team for the rescue work, said, operation is by both Army and the police.

Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, also said that about 50 passengers were in the bus when it was washed away.