Fifteen people were killed and 24 injured, six of them critically, when a bus rolled down into a gorge in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir today.

The bus on its way to Rajouri from Kandi skidded off the road and rolled down into the gorge at Mandir Gala area in Rajouri district, about 156 km from here, this afternoon, police said.

Ten people died on the spot while five others succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital, police said.

Of the 24 injured, six have been admitted to Government Medical College Hospital here in critical condition.

Transport Minister Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, speaking in the Assembly, expressed sympathy with the family members of the deceased and said that rescue operation has been launched in the area under the supervision of DIG Rajouri-Poonch.

The government announced a relief of Rs 1 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 10,000 each for the injured.

Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the accident and conveyed their sympathy to the bereaved families.

The Transport Minister accompanied by Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmed Khan and MLA Darhal Zulfikar Ali visited Rajouri and took stock of the rescue operation.

They also visited district hospital Rajouri and enquired about the condition of the injured.

The District Administration had also provided immediate relief of Rs 10,000 to the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 5,000 to each injured persons.