Pahalgam:At least eight security personnel died and several others were injured when a bus carrying 37 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel and two Jammu and Kashmir police officials, fell into a deep gorge in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said. He also said that the jawans were returning from Amarnath yatra duty.
The incident took place between Chandanwari and Pahalgam, a police official said. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed his condolence over the loss of life in the mishap. Seven ITBP personnel died on the spot, one succumbed on way to the hospital while 10 others sustained grievous injuries. The bus was on its way from Chandanwari to the police control room here.
The security personnel were being de-inducted from the Amarnath Yatra duty that concluded on August 11, a senior officer said. A Border Security Force (BSF) helicopter and a number of ambulances were pressed to shift the injured, officials said. A doctor at the Government Medical College of Anantnag, Dr Syed Tariq said that 30 people were injured in the accident.
Out of the 8 jawans, seven have been identified as Constable Amit Kumar from Etah, Uttar Pradesh; Head constable Dula Singh from Taran-Taran, Punjab; Constable Subhash Berwal of Sekhar, Rajasthan; Constable Raja Shekhar from Kadapa, Andra Pradesh; Constable Abiraj from Lakhisari, Bihar; Constable Dinesh Singh Bora of Pithorgarh, Uttarakhand, and Constable Sandeep Kumar from Domana, Jammu.