7 ITBP personnel dead, 32 injured as bus falls into gorge in Pahalgam

SRINAGAR — Seven ITBP personnel died while 32 others returning from Amarnath Yatra duty faced grave injuries on Tuesday after a bus fell into a deep gorge at Zig Morh in Pahalgam area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The bus was on its way from Chandanwari to the Police Control Room in Srinagar.

A statement released by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police read, “A civil bus carrying 39 personnel (37 from ITBP and two from J&K Police) fell down to a roadside river bed after its brakes reportedly failed. The troops were on their way from Chandanwari to Pahalgam. Casualties feared.”

“In a road accident near Chandanwari Pahalgam in Anantnag district, 7 ITBP personnel got martyred while as several others got injured, who are being airlifted to Army hospital, Srinagar for treatment,” police said in a tweet, adding, “Further details shall follow.”

Injured persons were shifted to SDH Pahalgam for further treatment and are now being airlifted to Army’s 92 base hospital here.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed his deepest anguish and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families over the loss of their loved ones in the bus accident. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and assured them that all possible assistance will be provided to the injured personnel.

“Deeply anguished by the bus accident near Chandanwari in which we have lost our brave ITBP personnel. My condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. All possible assistance is being provided to the injured personnel,” Sinha tweeted.