JAKARTA - A total of 21 people were killed and 61 others were injured when a bus overloaded with passengers went off the road and plunged down a slope in Udhampur District, Jammu and Kashmir region administered by India.
According to police, the bus was on its way from Ramnagar to Udhampur when the driver lost control while making a sharp turn near Kagort village around 10.00 local time.
The bus fell about 21 meters, hitting a motorized pedicab before it overturned.
The motor rickshaw driver was also injured in the incident.
Union Minister of State for India Jitendra Singh, who also represents the Udhampur constituency, confirmed the number of fatalities.
He said the injured victims had been taken to hospital. One person was in critical condition and was flown to Government Medical College Jammu.
Indian Army units were the first to arrive on the scene, rescuing dozens of people trapped in the ruins in difficult terrain.
The rescue team then joined local residents and a number of institutions to help the bus passengers.
Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences.
Modi announced compensation of 200 thousand rupees (almost Rp37 million) for the families of the deceased and 50 thousand rupees for the injured.
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have ordered the delivery of aid and launched an investigation. Abdullah also announced additional compensation.
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