Road accident leaves 21 dead in Kashmir
At least 21 people were killed and over a dozen more injured yesterday when an overcrowded minibus plunged into a gorge in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said.
The accident took place in southern Poonch district, a police spokesman said, adding that 15 injured passengers were in a critical condition.
"So far we have 21 confirmed deaths," the spokesman said, adding that t was feared the toll would rise.
The speeding bus rolled down into a gorge while negotiating a sharp curve in the mountains of Poonch, police said.
"The seriously injured people have been shifted to (winter capital) Jammu," the spokesman said.
Senior police and civil officials of the district are supervising relief and rescue operations.
Bus accidents are common in the Himalayan region because of a combination of bad roads, overcrowding and poor vehicle maintenance.
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