J&K: At least 17 killed as minibus plunges into Chenab

Tragedy hit the Chenab valley on Friday when an overloaded mini-bus rolled down into a 260 feet deep gorge leaving 17 people dead and 16 others injured, 11 of them critically, near Thakraie in the mountainous district of Kishtwar.

Army troops and Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service for the rescue and relief operations.  

The incident occurred at 8.50 am when a minibus with 33 passengers on board was on its way from Keshwan to Kishtwar town. When it reached Thakraie village, the driver lost control over the bus and it turned turtle before rolling down the gorge into the Chenab River.

District development commissioner of Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana said as per latest reports, 17 passengers have died and 16 others injured. “The 11 seriously injured people were airlifted to Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu, for specialised treatment,” he said

 “I will order an inquiry to find out what exactly happened.  There is a blind curve on the road. This driver was challaned on August 13 (for overloading). There is no doubt that the bus was overloaded. May be it was speeding and he could not control over it. Everything will come out in the inquiry,” he said.

“All the passengers were evacuated from the deep gorge to the road head by the Army troops with the help of locals. Army Medical Team rushed to the site and rendered Medical aid to the injured,” said Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand, defence spokesman in Jammu.