JAMMU: Four persons, including two students, were killed and 18 others injured today when a passenger bus overturned on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway in Samba district here, police said.
The accident triggered protest by locals as the injured claimed that it was a result of "rash driving" and "overloading". However, the police said they are investigating to ascertain the cause.
The mini-bus was going to Samba town from the border village of Checkwal when the accident took place around 8:20 AM near Rakha Ambpatti area, a police spokesman said.
Three people identified as -- Prem (45), Jaanu (17) and Mehak (21), both students, were killed on the spot, while 55-year-old Ramesh Chandar succumbed to injuries at the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital here, the spokesman said.
The injured, including several students, are undergoing treatment the GMC hospital.
Local people were the first to reach the accident spot and rescue people from the wreckage.
Following the accident, a large number of people blocked the highway in protest against the state government for failing to check overloading and reckless driving by passenger vehicle operators.
"It is premature to say whether the accident was the result of rash driving. We have registered a case and started investigations to ascertain the facts," the police official said.
He said the protest ended around 2 PM and traffic movement on the highway was resumed.