20 die as bus plunges into gorge
Twenty persons died and 18 others were seriously injured when an overloaded passenger mini-bus fell into a deep gorge at village Madana, on Surankote Poonch road, in Jammu, on Saturday.
The police said the ill-fated mini bus was on its way from Poonch to Surankote. The mishap occurred due to tyre burst and over-speed. Eight persons died on the spot, while 12 others succumbed to their injuries in different hospitals of the state. Eighteen injured persons were airlifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, for specialized treatment.
Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP (People’s Democratic Party) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed have expressed shock and grief over the loss of life in the accident.
“The state government has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs one lakh in favour of the next of kin of those who have lost their lives in the accident, and Rs 10,000 in favour of injured who have been hospitalized,” a government spokesman said.
