Bus accident kills 15 kids in Pakistani Kashmir

ISLAMABAD - At least 15 schoolchildren died when their school bus plunged into the Jhulum river in Pakistan-administered Kashmir Tuesday, media reports said.

There were at least 30-35 children of Allama Iqbal School in the bus when it fell into the Jhelum river at Garhi Dupatta, 25 km from Muzaffarabad, capital of the region, Xinhua reported.

“We have recovered the bodies of 15 children,” Chaudhry Imtiaz, deputy commissioner of Muzaffarabad, was quoted as saying by Dawn.

The driver lost control of the vehicle, which skidded off the road and plunged into the river, said Ghulam Akbar, police chief of Muzaffarabad.

“Only five children have been recovered alive,” he said, adding that the toll might rise.

Witnesses said the accident occurred when the driver was taking a turn.

The school principal, meanwhile, said the coach was in good condition and there may have been some technical fault.