Seven soldiers lost their lives while 30 others were injured as a vehicle carrying 39 personnel (37 from Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and two from J&K Police) met with an accident in the Chandanwari-Pahalgam area of South Kashmir's Anantnag district on Tuesday.
The vehicle fell down to a roadside river bed after failure of its brakes. The troops were on their way from Chandanwari to Pahalgam.
The police and other officials rushed to the spot and a rescue operation is underway.
DG ITBP, SL Thaosen told ANI, "Seven of our jawans have lost their lives in the accident. Eight jawans with serious injuries have been airlifted to Srinagar for medical treatment, others are being treated at a hospital in Anantnag."
"Critically injured jawans airlifted to 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar, remaining jawans admitted at Anantnag hospital are stable," said Ranbeer Singh, DIG at Anantnag, J&K.
An ITBP official confirmed the deceased ITBP personnel were identified as Head Constable Dula Singh (Taran, Punjab), Constable Abhiraj (Lakhisarai, Bihar), Constable Amit K (Etah, UP), Constable D Raj Shekhar (Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh),Constable Subhash C Bairwal (Sikar, Rajasthan), Constable Dinesh Bohra (Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand) and Constable Sandeep Kumar (Jammu in J&K).
President Droupadi Murmu, reacting to the unfortunate incident, said, "The tragic loss of precious lives of ITBP personnel in the unfortunate accident at Anantnag, J&K fills me with sadness. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."
Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, "Anguished to learn about the accident of a bus carrying ITBP and police personnel in Pahalgam, J&K. My prayers and thoughts are with the bereaved families. The injured were rushed to the hospital. May they recover at the earliest."
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Jain said, "Anguished to learn about the accident of a bus carrying ITBP and police personnel in Pahalgam, J&K. My deepest condolences to the families of our braves who lost their lives in the line of duty. Praying for the quick recovery of the injured."
Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah tweeted, "At the same time I send my condolences to the families & colleagues of the brave ITBP jawans killed in an accident in Pahalgam today. A number of ITBP personnel have been injured. I send my best wishes for their speedy & complete recovery."
