Ist LD Writethru: 14 killed, 30 injured after mini-bus rolls down into gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir

At least 14 people were killed and 30 others injured Tuesday after a mini-bus they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The accident took place in morning at Ramnagar area of Udhampur district, about 230 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"In a tragic accident this morning, 14 people were killed on spot and many others injured when a bus carrying them rolled down into 150-feet deep gorge here," Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, deputy commissioner Udhampur told Xinhua over telephone. "We are carrying out rescue operations on the spot and retrieving bodies from the gorge."

Soon after the accident, police officials and locals rushed to the spot to rescue injured and retrieve bodies from the mangled vehicle.

Locals said the ill-fated vehicle overcrowded with locals was on way from Ghordi to Ramnagar.

Officials fear the casualties are likely to increase due to critical condition of some injured.

India's official broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) said out of 30 injured, 10 are critical.

"Some of the injured were shifted to district hospital Udhampur and seriously injured have been sent to the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu," the broadcaster said.

Deadly road accidents often caused due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving are common in India. Endit