Srinagar, Sep 14: At least 17 people have died after a matador van skidded off the road and fell into Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Friday. 16 people have been injured and 11 have been airlifted by a helicopter to Jammu said DC Kishtwar Angrez Singh Ranapeople, even as the rescue operations are underway. The matador van was carrying over two dozen passengers when it met with the mishap.

The vehicle was on its way from Keshwan to Kishtwar town when the accident took place. The driver reportedly lost control over the steering Thakrai,  nearly 18 km from Kishtwar, and rolled down into Chenab. Locals and the Jammu and Kashmir police rushed to the sport to carry out the rescue operation. A large-scale rescue operation was underway.

"The accident happened at around 9 am earlier in the day in Thakrai area of Kishtwar district, when the vehicle, packed with passengers, was coming from Keshwan," Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana told news agency ANI.

Last month, twelve people were killed and two injured in a road accident in Kishtwar district. A vehicle carrying Machail Yatra pilgrims fell into a deep gorge in the Dool area, resulting death of 12 people. A five-year-old child survived the accident.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2018 12:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).