Kishtwar accident: Jammu & Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik announces ex-gratia of 5 Lakh

Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 Lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased and Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar accident on Sunday.

At least 35 people lost their lives in Kishtwar district after a minibus fell into a gorge while it was travelling from Keshwan. Seventeen people have also been injured in the incident and are now being treated in a nearby hospital.

The incident took place after the driver of the minibus lost control and the vehicle fell into a gorge.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolence to the families of the deceased and said that the accident is "heart-wrenching".

"The accident in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar is heart-wrenching. We mourn all those who lost their lives and express condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest," PM Modi said on Twitter.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that he is "extremely saddened" by the incident and will "pray for the speedy recovery" of those who were injured.

"Extremely saddened to learn about the loss of lives due to a road accident in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir," Amit Shah said, adding, "My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones." 

"I pray of the speedy recovery of those injured," he also said.

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also offered her condolences and tweeted, " Saddened to hear about the tragic accident in Kishtwar. Deepest condolences to families of the bereaved".

Omar Abdullah, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader, also condoled the accident and offered prayers for the swift recovery of the injured through his Twitter account.

"Terrible news coming in about the high death toll in a bus accident in Kishtwar. Condolences to the families of the deceased & prayers for the swift recovery of the injured," he tweeted.