In Jammu and Kashmir at least 16 Amarnath pilgrims were killed while 16 others injured in a road accident in Samba district last night.

The tragedy occurred when a truck carrying pilgrims plunged into a deep gorge on Samba-Mansar road near Samba.

Eleven bodies were recovered from the accident site while five others succumbed to their injuries in District Hospital .

Our correspondent reports that the injured have been brought to Government Medical College, Jammu.

The administration requisitioned the help of Army and BSF, which reached the spot to join the operations.

Entire administrative machinery including civil, police and health authorities were pressed into service to shift dead and injured to hospital.

The local people also joined the rescue operation which was on when the reports last came in. This was second major accident involving Amarnath yatris in Jammu region.

A fortnight ago,15 pilgrims were killed when a bus bringing pilgrims back from the yatra, had rolled down into a gorge near Ramban on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.