At least one person was killed and 17 others were injured when a bus returning from Mata Vaishno Devi shrine skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge near Jammu on Saturday (Feb 22) evening, said officials.

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The bus, as per reports, was on its way to Delhi and the accident took place near Manda, around eight kilometres from the Jammu bus stand.

A rescue operation was launched soon after the unfortunate accident.

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What happened?

As per a report by news agency PTI, the driver of the bus lost control while negotiating a curve and the bus plunged into the gorge. Talking to the press, SSP Traffic, Jammu and Kashmir, Fiesel Qureshi said that 19 people were on board, and almost all have been rescued. The driver who remained trapped in the bus wreckage for some time died in the accident.

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Officials said that seventeen people were rescued and have been evacuated to the Government Medical College Hospital. One of them was declared dead on arrival.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah extended condolences to the family of the deceased and wished a swift recovery to the injured. "Deeply saddened by the bus accident at Manda, carrying pilgrims from Katra to Delhi. My heartfelt condolences to the family of the driver who lost his life in this tragic incident," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)