SRINAGAR: As many as seven Indian Tibet Border Police (ITBP) personnel were killed and 34 others including J and K Policemen were injured when the J and K Police bus they were traveling in fell into gorge of Lidder river  near Chandanwari in Pahalgaon, about 80 km from Srinagar today.

All the injured were rescued from the site and were airlifted by the army helicopter to the army hospital in Srinagar, said the ITBP.  

What is surprising is that the bus belongs to the Jammu and Kashmir police and has raised questions as to why the ITBP personnel, a specialised force were travelling in that police bus, said experts.      

Chandanwari is the base for the Amarnath Cave pilgrimage, located about 26 km from Pahalgam.

There are reports that the ill-fated bus skidded off the road and driver lost the control, plunging the bus into the Lidder gorge, killing seven jawans.  

The bus was reduced to the mangled remains on the riverside of Lidder after the accident.   As many as 41 personnel including some J&K policemen were travelling in the ill-fated bus. 

LG Jammu-Kashmir ( UT) Manoj Sinha  visited the hospital and enquired about their health.

Expressing his grief over the  tragic accident Director General of ITBP Dr Sujoy Lal said he was deeply saddened by the tragic accident in which  7 ITBP personnel lost their lives. “I stand with them in this hour grief and we are taking care of the injured and wish for their speedy recovery”.

He said all possible assistance is being provided to the injured personnel.