Bus Plunges into Gorge After Militant Assault: 10 Dead, 33 Injured

Ten people were killed and 33 others were injured after a bus carrying pilgrims fell down a gorge after suspected terrorists attacked it in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.

Ten people were killed and 33 others were injured after suspected terrorists fired upon a bus carrying pilgrims from a shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district on Sunday, police and officials said. The bus rolled down a gorge following the attack.

The incident occurred at 6:10 pm when the terrorists opened fire on the bus that was returning from Shiv Khori temple in Reasi to Katra, police said.

With the help of local villagers, police evacuated all the passengers by 8:10 pm. Superintendent of Police (SP) Reasi supervised the evacuation and rushed the injured to different hospitals. Police said ten deaths have been confirmed and the 33 injured were referred to various hospitals in Reasi, Treyath and Jammu.

A joint operation headquarters of the police, Indian Army and CRPF was set up at the site and a multi-dimensional operation was launched to get the attackers.

According to sources, the terrorists are believed to be hiding in the upper reaches of Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi.

Top points on Jammu-Kashmir terror attack

• Narendra Modi, who took oath as the Prime Minister for the third time, took stock of the situation and directed that all the injured are provided the best possible medical care, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said in a tweet.
  “I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack on a bus in Reasi. My condolences to the family members of the martyred civilians. Our security forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a joint operation to hunt down the terrorists,” he tweeted.
• BJP leader Amit Shah, who took oath as a Union Cabinet Minister earlier today, said he was “deeply pained” by the attack. He said he spoke to Lieutenant Governor Sinha and asserted that the terrorists won’t be spared.
  “Deeply pained by the incident of the attack on pilgrims in Reasi, J&K. Spoke to the Lieutenant Governor and the DGP, J&K, and inquired about the incident. The culprits of this dastardly attack will not be spared and will face the wrath of the law,” he tweeted.
• National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah “unequivocally” condemned the attack and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. “Terrible news from Reasi in J&K where 10 yatris have reportedly lost their lives and many more are injured after a terror attack on a bus. I unequivocally condemn this attack. It is unfortunate to see areas that had previously been cleared of all militants see a return of militancy. May the deceased rest in peace and may the injured make a swift recovery,” he tweeted.
• Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned the attack and urged the government to provide immediate assistance and compensation to the victims. He also slammed the new NDA government that took office earlier today over the rise in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called the attack “saddening” and said it reflected the “worrying security situation” in Jammu and Kashmir. “The cowardly terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims from Shivkhodi temple in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir is extremely saddening. This shameful incident is the true picture of the worrying security situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” he tweeted.
• President Droupadi Murmu condemned the attack and said the dastardly act is a crime against humanity. “I am anguished by the terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. This dastardly act is a crime against humanity, and must be condemned in the strongest words. The nation stands with the families of the victims. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” President Droupadi Murmu tweeted.
• West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday expressed grief over the death of nine people in an attack by terrorists on a bus with pilgrims on board in Jammu and Kashmir, and demanded an investigation into the incident.
  Taking to X, Banerjee said, “Learnt that there has been an incident of attack on some pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir, and there have been consequently 9 deaths. The matter should be immediately investigated into. I convey my profound condolences to the victim families.”
• Union Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described the terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi locality as “extremely reprehensible”. “The attack on the bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely reprehensible,” Singh said on ‘X’.”My heart goes out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones in this heinous act against pilgrims. I also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.
• Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi Mohita Sharma said the driver lost the balance of the bus and fell into a gorge due to the firing. She said the passengers were non-locals and their identities were not confirmed yet.”Initial reports suggest that terrorists fired upon the passenger bus going from Shiv Khori to Katra. Due to the firing, the bus driver lost balance of the bus and it fell into a gorge. 33 people were injured in the incident. Rescue operation has been completed,” SSP Sharma told reporters.

  “The identities of the passengers have not been confirmed yet, they are not locals. Shiv Khori shrine was secured and area domination was done,” she said.

• This was the second time terrorists attacked a pilgrim bus in Jammu and Kashmir in the past three decades. Earlier, a bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims was fired upon by terrorists in Kashmir’s Anantnag district in July 2017, killing seven pilgrims and injuring 19 others. Source