Srinagar – In a devastating incident, nine pilgrims lost their lives and 33 were injured after a bus they were traveling in was attacked by terrorists and subsequently fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district this evening. The bus was en route to the Shiv Khori cave temple when it came under fire.
As terrorists opened fire, the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to plunge into a gorge. “Nine pilgrims have died and 33 are injured,” confirmed Vishesh Mahajan, District Magistrate of Reasi, in a statement to NDTV.
Reasi’s Senior Superintendent Of Police, Mohita Sharma, explained that initial reports indicate the terrorists fired upon the passenger bus, leading the driver to lose balance and the bus to fall into the gorge. “Thirty-three people were injured in the incident. The rescue operation has been completed, and the identities of the passengers have not been confirmed yet. They are not locals. The Shiv Khori shrine was secured and area domination was done,” she said.
Visuals from the accident site depicted a grim scene, with bodies scattered along the hillside and the bus severely damaged. Local residents participated in the rescue operations, while ambulances and emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene.
This attack signifies a troubling escalation in violence in the region. Reasi district, which has been relatively peaceful compared to its neighboring districts Rajouri and Poonch, is now grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event.