23 pilgrims injured after minibus plunges into gorge in Kathua, two critical

Kathua : At least 23 pilgrims were injured, two of them critically, after a minibus carrying devotees to the revered Sukrala Mata shrine plunged into a gorge in the Simbli area of Kathua district on Wednesday, officials said.

An official told the news agency that the minibus was on its way to the shrine when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle in Simbli, causing it to roll down into a gorge.

The official said that 23 passengers sustained injuries in the accident, with two reported to be in critical condition. The injured were rescued and shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The rescue operation was jointly carried out by the police, civil administration, and local residents, who rushed to the spot immediately after the accident, the official added.

He said the condition of the critically injured passengers was being closely monitored by doctors.

Meanwhile, police have taken cognisance of the incident and initiated an investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident.—(KNO)