6 killed, 30 injured after bus falls into gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir


SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, March 2 (Xinhua)

At least six people were killed and 30 others injured after a bus carrying them skidded off a mountainous road and fell into gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Saturday.
The accident took place late Friday night at Majalta in Udhampur district, about 204 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
“Last night a bus on its way from Surinsar to Srinagar rolled down into a deep gorge at Majalta here,” a senior police official posted at Udhampur told Xinhua. “In the accident six passengers were killed, while as 30 others injured, of whom some are stated to be critical.”
Reports said soon after the news about accident spread, some locals as well as police officials rushed to the spot to carry out rescue work.
The injured have been rushed to Government Medical College hospital Jammu for treatment, the officials said.According to police the bus was carrying local passengers.
Police officials have registered a case and ordered investigations to ascertain the reason behind the deadly accident.
Eyewitnesses said the wreckage of the bus was lying scattered in the gorge.Deadly road accidents are common in India often caused due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving.
Officials say on an average over 400 deaths take place every day in India due to road accidents.