At least 20 persons were killed and 19 injured on Saturday when an overloaded mini-bus plunged into a 300-ft deep gorge near Ramban on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.

Reports said that 12 passengers died on the spot and 8 succumbed while being carried to the hospital.

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Two helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and state government made seven sorties to fly the 12 critically injured persons to the medical college hospital at Jammu and the Military Hospital of the Northern Command at Udhampur for treatment, said SA Bhat, deputy commissioner, Ramban.

Men of the Army, CRPF, police and also civilians were engaged in rescue operations.

The vehicle with seating capacity of 16 was reportedly carrying more than 36 passengers from Banihal to Ramban on the strategic highway where traffic police officers are deployed at various places to check violation of motor vehicle laws.

Officers of the district were supervising rescue operations.

Reports said that the driver lost control over the speeding vehicle about 4 kms short of Ramban.