As many as 40 schoolchildren were feared dead as a school bus carrying them fell into a gorge at Mansar in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.
The students of Gareeb Nawaz Academy School at Manjakote were going on a picnic to Peer Ki Gali when the accident occurred at Mansar in Rajouri district of Jammu region, reports said.
As per reports, as many as 12 ambulances have been pressed into service. Rescue operation was on when this story was filed in the evening. The death toll was yet to be confirmed by the police or any other government agency.
"Forty children are feared dead in this tragic accident. Police and army teams have reached the spot and a massive rescue operation is on," a senior police official said.
"Chances of survival of the occupants are bleak as the vehicle fell 150 feet into a deep gorge," he said.
(With inputs from agencies)