'Attackers Kept Firing To Ensure Everyone Was Killed': J&K Bus Attack Survivors Recount Harrowing Ordeal

As many as nine people were killed while 33 were injured as terrorists opened fire at a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district

Survivors from the Jammu and Kashmir terrorist bus attack narrated a harrowing detail of what they went through after militants opened fire at their bus in Reasi district on Sunday. As many as nine people were killed and 33 were injured as terrorists struck the bus enroute from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra. The bus veered off the road following the barrage of gunfire and fell into a deep gorge near the Teryath village of the Poni area.

Recounting the moment of horror, survivors said that the terrorists continued to fire even after it fell in the gorge "to ensure everyone was killed." The passengers stayed silent to pretend as all of them were dead. 

"They were 6–7 terrorists, their faces were covered with masks. Initially, they fired on the bus by covering it from all sides on the road," said an eyewitness according to an India Today report. "When the bus fell, they came towards it and kept firing to ensure everyone was killed," the eyewitnesses said, adding "We maintained silence to make them believe (that they were dead)."

The incident took place 30 minutes after the passengers took the bus for Vaishno Devi from Shivkhorhi (Reasi) at 6 pm, said the eyewitness.

"We were afraid and just wanted to get back to our homes. There were kids and women also on the bus and all got injured. Police and locals arrived to rescue us after 10 to 15 mins of this attack," the report added. 

Another survivor also said that the gunmen did not stop the firing after the bus fell in the ditch. 

"After having darshan at Mata Vaishno Devi, I went to Shiv Khori. While returning from there, after 4-5 km, bullets were fired on our bus. The firing did not stop even after our bus fell into the ditch, the survivor told news agency ANI. "The driver was shot and then some people were also injured in the firing...," he added. 

J&K Lieutenant Governor Announces Ex Gratia

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of pilgrims martyred in the Reasi terror attack, said his office in a social media post on X. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000. The injured pilgrims are being treated at different hospitals in Jammu & Reasi, it added.