Death toll rises to 36 in kishtwar bus accident

Jammu, May 9 (UNI) The death toll of bus accident in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir rose to 36 as two more passengers succumbed to their injuries, while six more bodies were recovered late last evening, official sources said here today.

According to the sources, 36 passengers were killed and five others sustained injuries, three of them critically, when a bus they were travelling in, plunged into river Chenab in Kishtwar district yesterday afternoon.

Twenty eight bodies were recovered yesterday after hours-long operation launched by civil and police administration with the help of army personnel and locals.

One of the injured succumbed to injuries while being airlifted here for treatment in the Government Medical College and Hospital.

Out of the 29 identified deceased, the bodies of 26 were handed over to their family members through different official arrangements after the post-mortem, sources added.

The bus, on its way to Kishtwar (229 kms from Jammu), rolled into river Chenab while negotiating a curve near Ballara Pul, about 20 kms short of its destination.

UNI VBH SLD AS2012