At least 21 passengers were killed and around 47 others injured after a bus rolled down a deep gorge in Jammu’s Akhnoor area on May 30, Thursday afternoon.

The J&K Police said the bodies of 21 deceased passengers had been shifted to the Sub District Hospital (SDH), Akhnoor. “Seven injured were admitted to the SDH, Akhnoor and 40 others were admitted to the Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu. A rescue operation is underway,” the police said.

The accident took place near Chungi Morh on the Jammu-Poonch highway. The vehicle, which rolled down into the gorge and covered a distance of around 200 meters, was badly damaged.

“The bus, carrying passengers from Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, met with an accident near Tanda, Akhnoor, in Jammu,” an official said. The vehicle was headed for the Shiv Khori yatra in Reasi district.

Initial reports suggested that eight women and two children were among the dead.

President Droupadi Murmu has expressed her grief over the accident. “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,” the President said.

J&K Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the incident. “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,” Mr. Sinha said.

He directed the administration “to provide all possible assistance to the bereaved families”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anguish over the loss of lives due to a bus mishap in Akhnoor. “My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover soon,” PM Modi said, in a post on X.

He also announced ₹2 lakhs as ex-gratia for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.