RAVINE TRAGEDY
At least 11 killed and 25 hurt as bus packed with schoolkids plunges 1,000ft down a steep gorge
AT LEAST 11 people have died and 25 are injured after an overloaded minibus packed with schoolkids plunged into a gorge in northern India.
The minibus was reportedly crammed far beyond capacity when it veered off the road and hurtled down into a deep ravine on Wednesday morning.
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A police officer warned the death toll is likely to rise as a number of passengers are in a critical condition.
Most of the passengers were students at a nearby government school.
Among those killed were two boys aged five and 14, two teenage girls and a woman.
The horror accident took place at around 8.30am in Poonch district in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Police say the minibus was on its way to Poonch from Gali Maidan when it veered off the road and fell into a 100 feet-deep gorge.
The driver reportedly lost control of the bus before it rolled several hundred metres down the ravine in the foothills of the Himalayas.
A police officer said: "The death toll is likely to go up in view of the critical injuries to 9 passengers."
A major rescue operation was launched after the accident, involving police, the army and locals.
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The injured were evacuated to a district hospital in Poonch.
India's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his grief at the tragic loss of life.
"Saddened by loss of lives due to a road accident in Sawjian, Poonch," he wrote on Twitter. "Condolences to bereaved families. May the injured recover soon."
He added that compensation of 5 lakh (£432k) would be given to the deceased's next of kin.
The President of India Rashtrapati Bhavan also spoke out following the tragedy.
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She wrote: "The loss of lives in a tragic road accident in Sawjian, Poonch is deeply distressing. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families.
"I wish speedy recovery of the injured."
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