Nine pilgrims killed, 33 injured as terrorists attack bus in J&K's Reasi

Srinagar: At least nine people were killed and 33 injured after a bus carrying pilgrims fell into a deep gorge as it lost control following a terrorist attack on Sunday evening in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The officials said that the bus came under a suspected terrorist attack in the Kanda area of Teryath Village in Reasi district when it was on way from Shiv Khori temple to Katra, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi.

"Militants were in ambush and opened fire at the bus on the way from Shiv Khori temple to Katra. The driver seems to have lost control and skidded off into the gorge. As of now, nine people are dead and 33 injured. They have been shifted to hospital and rescue operation is complete," said Mohita Sharma, SSP of Reasi district.

She further said that the identification of the passengers is being ascertained formally but it seems they were from Uttar Pradesh.

"We were on high alert for several days now and Shiv Khori temple was completely secured and we recently conducted area domination and firing exercises as well along with the Village Defence Guards," she said. "I was driving past the area ferrying customers and when I reached the spot, traffic was stopped a few hundred metres ahead. I came down from the car and I saw shards of glass on the road. When I walked some distance downhill, I heard screams of people crying for help," an eyewitness told local officials. He immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and alerted the staff to send ambulance and rescue teams to the spot.

Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah condemned the attack. "Terrible news from Reasi in J&K ... 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 & may the injured make a swift recovery," Omar posted on X.

The attack took place on a day when Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of the country for the third consecutive term. Jammu and Kashmir police and army have maintained that foreign terrorists remain a challenge for the forces who are mainly active in Rajouri-Poonch and Doda-Kishtwar range of Jammu.

"Foreigners are active in this area and they keep moving in the forest range between Rajouri Poonch and Reasi districts. We have reports that fresh batches of foreign intruders are active in Doda and Kishtwar areas as well," said an official.

Earlier, J&K police chief R R Swain on the sidelines of a function in Pulwama had said that J&K is moving from "resident terrorism to foreign terrorism."