Jammu, Apr 20 (NVI): Army troops rescued dozens of passengers after a private bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Ramnagar in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said.
The accident occurred around 9:40 am near Kaghote village when the bus, on its way from Ramnagar to Udhampur, fell nearly 70 feet into the gorge, resulting in multiple casualties.
Troops of the Gorkha Rifles, who were passing through the area, were the first to reach the spot and immediately launched rescue operations, evacuating trapped passengers from the mangled vehicle under difficult terrain conditions, they said.
An incident control centre was set up at the site under the supervision of an Army officer to coordinate rescue and relief efforts. Multiple teams of Army personnel were deployed for the operation.
The injured were provided first aid and shifted to nearby hospitals, while coordination was also established with the Indian Air Force for possible air evacuation air evacuationof the critically injured, officials said.
Army personnel also arranged food and water for the survivors and those involved in the rescue operation.
According to preliminary reports, 21 people were killed and 29 others injured in the accident. Civil authorities have taken over further rescue, medical treatment and investigation.
The Army’s swift response helped in saving several lives, officials added.(NVI)
