At least 10 individuals have lost their lives, and 33 others sustained injuries in an attack on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims in the Indian federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir, according to police officials.
The incident occurred when suspected militants opened fire on the bus, causing the driver to lose control and the vehicle to plunge into a gorge in Reasi district of Jammu.
Rescue operations have concluded, while a joint search operation by the Indian army and police is ongoing to apprehend the attackers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed on the situation and has instructed for the best medical care to be provided to the injured. Manoj Sinha, the region’s top administrator, has pledged that those responsible for the attack will be swiftly punished.
The bus was en route to the base camp of the renowned Hindu shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi when it came under attack. Although no group has claimed responsibility, district police chief Mohita Sharma stated that suspected militants ambushed the bus.
The Himalayan region of Kashmir has long been a contentious issue between India and Pakistan, with both countries claiming it in full but controlling it in part. The area has witnessed decades of conflict, with an insurgency against Indian rule since 1989.
India accuses Pakistan of supporting militants in the region, a claim denied by Islamabad.
The attack occurred as Prime Minister Modi was being sworn in for his third consecutive term, adding poignancy to the tragic event.
While the identities of the passengers are yet to be officially confirmed, they are believed to be from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, according to Ms. Sharma.
Photographs depict injured individuals, including a woman, being transported to a hospital in Jammu for treatment.