A bus carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh enroute to the Shiv Khori temple fell into a deep gorge after it was fired upon by in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday evening, killing at least nine people onboard and leaving 33 others injured.

According to the police, terrorists struck the bus when it was on its way from the Shiv Khori temple to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra near Teryath village in the Poni area of Reasi district. The 53-seater bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge following the gunfire at around 6:15 pm, police said.

“An unfortunate incident occurred and as per the initial reports, the terrorists had laid an ambush and opened fire on the bus which had left Shiv Khori for Katra. The driver lost balance and the vehicle fell into the gorge,” Senior Superintendent of Police, Reasi, Mohita Sharma told reporters at the scene.

Sharma said the rescue operation was completed and so far nine persons are dead and 33 others injured in the incident and they have been shifted to different hospitals, adding that the identity of the deceased is not clear yet but preliminary reports suggest that all the victims are residents of Uttar Pradesh.