At least 12 passengers were killed and more than two dozen were injured on Wednesday when a bus rolled down a deep gorge in the mountainous Poonch district of the Himalayan Kashmir region.
Police said the overcrowded vehicle was on a narrow mountain road when the driver lost control before the bus plunged into the gorge near Brari Ballah Sawjian.
Nine people died at the scene. Three more died later at a local hospital.
Police and local people climbed down the steep gorge to help the injured and retrieve the bodies of the dead.
Five of the injured have been flown to Jammu city for treatment.
Social media video of the accident spot showed a mangled vehicle lying inside the gorge as locals and rescue workers pulled the injured from the bus.
The local authorities announced cash compensation of 500,000 rupees ($6,300) for the families of the victims, and said the injured would be treated.
“Saddened by the loss of lives due to a road accident in Sawjian, Poonch. Condolences to bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,” tweeted regional administrator Manoj Sinha.
India’s new President Droupadi Murmu also expressed grief over the accident and prayed for the recovery of those injured.
The region, close to the border with Pakistan, is notorious for road accidents owing to its treacherous terrain and narrow roads as well as the overcrowding of public buses.
Last week at least 14 people were injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge. At least nine people from a marriage party were killed when their vehicle plunged into a gorge in March this year.
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Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
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Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
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Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
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Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
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Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
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