SRINAGAR: Even as an operation is underway to nab the killers in the pilgrim bus attack in Reasi, authorities have identified the nine victims of the terror attack. While four dead pilgrims are natives of Rajasthan, including a two-year-old boy, and three from Uttar Pradesh.
The dead include Vijay Kumar, a resident of Dassanoo, Reasi, who was driving the vehicle and Arun Kumar, a Kandayar, Katra resident who was the bus conductor.
Ten people with gunshot wounds are among the 41 pilgrims — mostly from Uttar Pradesh — undergoing treatment in three hospitals of Jammu and Reasi districts, officials said.
Terrorists opened fire at the bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district around 6.10 pm on Sunday, killing nine and injuring several.
Reports said the attack took place at Taryath area that borders Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri district and is surrounded by forests and mountains. It is being suspected by security agencies that the assailants operating in Rajouri and Poonch districts, who were instrumental in a series of attacks during the last year, were responsible for the strike and managed to escape after the firing.
The 53-seater bus, on its way from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra, veered off the road following the barrage of gunfire and fell into a deep gorge near the Teryath village of the Poni area.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Reasi) Vishesh Paul Mahajan said all nine victims, including the driver and the conductor of the bus, have been identified.
Driver Vijay Kumar hailed from the Dasanoo Rajbagh village while conductor Arun Kumar was a native of Kandera village in Katra, both in the Reasi district.
The other victims are Rajinder Prasad Pandey Sawhney, Mamta Sawhney, Pooja Sawhney and her two-year-old son Titu Sawhney — all residents of Jaipur in Rajasthan — and Shivam Gupta, Ruby and 14-year-old Anurag Verma from Uttar Pradesh.
Mahajan said the district administration is sending the bodies to their respective states.
He added that 41 people aged between three and 50 were injured in the attack. Of them, 10 suffered gunshot injuries and are stable after undergoing surgeries.
Eighteen injured are undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College in Jammu, 14 at Narayana Hospital and nine at the district hospital in Reasi, Mahajan said.
Among the injured, 34 are from Uttar Pradesh, five from Delhi and two from Rajasthan, the officials said.
Meanwhile, the authorities have set up a round-the-clock helpline for information and assistance about the victims of the bus accident. The helpline numbers include 01991-245639, 01991-245076, 0191-2542000 and 9419839557.
(With PTI inputs)
