Srinagar:
: Following an attack on a bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori, the Indian Army initiated a search operation in the Reasi district on Monday morning. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has also arrived, utilizing drones to aid the search efforts in the dense forest areas surrounding the incident site.
Militants targeted a bus carrying Yatris in Reasi district on Sunday evening, resulting in the deaths of eight pilgrims and injuring 33 others, according to police reports.
The 53-seater bus, en route from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra, skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge after being attacked.
“At approximately 6:10 PM in the Pouni area of Reasi district, bordering Rajouri district, a bus carrying yatris from Shiv Khori to Katra was apparently targeted by militants using firearms,” said Senior Superintendent of Police, Reasi, Mohita Sharma.
The driver, who was hit in the attack, lost control of the bus, causing it to slide into the gorge. With the assistance of local villagers, police evacuated all passengers by 8:10 PM.
SP Reasi supervised the evacuation and dispatched the injured to various hospitals.
“Eight deaths have been confirmed. The 33 injured have been referred to different hospitals: District Headquarters Hospital Reasi (13), CHC Treyath (5), and GMC in Jammu (15),” the officer stated.
A temporary joint security operation headquarters, involving the Police, Army, and CRPF, has been established at the site.