Jammu Bus Accident: At least 21 people were killed while 40 others sustained severe injuries after a bus carrying over 60 pilgrims fell into a gorge near Akhnoor in Jammu district. The accident took place at the Tangli morh in the Choki Chora belt of the district, officials said, adding that the bus rolled around 150 feet down into the gorge.

The bus was carrying pilgrims from the Kurukshetra area of Haryana to the Shiv Khori area in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. A rescue operation involving police and locals was launched and the injured have been shifted to the Akhnoor hospital and Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Jammu.

According to officials, the ill-fated bus carrying pilgrims was going towards Shiv Khori and instead of taking the turn, it went straight into the gorge. The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital in Akhnoor and further investigation is underway, officials added.

"The bus was going towards Shiv Khori. The cut here is very ordinary and there shouldn't have been any difficulty, but maybe the driver fell asleep, he couldn't negotiate the cut. Instead of taking the turn, bus went straight and then went down...there are around 15 casualties and around 15 are injured. Injured are admitted at a hospital in Akhnoor and those who are in critical condition are being referred to Jammu," Rajinder Singh Tara, Transport Commissioner, J&K said.

Condoling the deaths in the accident, President Droupadi Murmu tweeted, "Pained beyond words to learn about the loss of lives in a bus accident in Akhnoor near Jammu. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery of the injured."

Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha also termed the accident heart-rending and said, "The bus accident in Akhnoor, Jammu is heart-rending. I condole the loss of lives and pray to the almighty to give the bereaved families the strength to bear the irreparable loss. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured."