At least six officers of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police were killed after a bus fell into a riverbed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on Tuesday, news agency ANI reported. At least 39 people were on the bus at the time of the incident.

The officers were returning from Amarnath yatra duty when their vehicle fell into a deep gorge between Chandanwari and Pahalgam. Two police officers were also on the bus.

An unnamed police official told news agency PTI that at least 10 others sustained severe injuries. Twenty-five ITBP personnel and two policemen were also injured in the accident.

A New Delhi spokesperson for the Indo Tibetian Border Police said that the “bus carrying 39 personnel fell down into a roadside river bed after its brakes reportedly failed”, PTI reported.

“The troops were on their way from Chandanwari to Pahalgam. Casualties are feared and more details are awaited”, the spokesperson added. A Border Security Force (BSF) helicopter has been pressed to airlift the casualties.

Those injured in the incident have been rushed to the Government Medical College in Anantnag. Dr Syed Tariq told ANI that 30 people were injured.

Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, said in a statement, “Deeply anguished by the bus accident near Chandanwari in which we have lost our brave ITBP personnel. My condolences to bereaved families & prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. All possible assistance is being provided to the injured personnel.”