18 killed in two Jammu road accidents

Jammu, May 20 (IANS) Eighteen people were killed and at least 44 injured in two road accidents in the Jammu region Tuesday, officials said.

One person was killed and 17 were injured in the first road accident in Kathua district, about 65 km from Jammu, police said.

Four passengers, who were injured in the accident that occurred when a bus going from Batal village to Bilawar town fell into a gorge, are in a serious condition.

In the second road accident, 17 people were killed and 27 injured when their bus fell into a deep gorge in Ramban district, 170 km from Jammu, an official told IANS here.

The accident occurred when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle at Digdol on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.

"Seventeen passengers have died so far, while 27 are injured," the official said, adding that the seriously injured were air-lifted on helicopters to Jammu.

Most of the passengers in the bus were youths going to the Kashmir Valley from Poonch and Rajouri districts for a recruitment rally. A few other passengers were from Gujarat.

Army personnel posted in the area are assisting the civil administration in relief and rescue operations, the official added.