Four people died and at least 20 sustained injuries after a passenger bus caught fire in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying.
The injured travellers are reportedly under treatment at a nearby hospital and the cause for the blaze is being ascertained by a forensics team.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Reasi Babila Rakwal, "this was not a blast but a bus tank explosion due to overheating (caused by weather)."
As per Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh, the preliminary probe, too, does not indicate the use of any explosive device.
"The bus caught fire on its way from Katra to Jammu. Fire cause is not confirmed yet. Preliminary investigation doesn't suggest a blast, but probe on, nothing confirmed as of now. 4 dead in the incident," he said.
The accident occurred near Nomai when the bus was travelling towards Jammu from Katra. Katra is a base camp for devotees going towards Vaishno Devi shrine.
Meanwhile, Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant General Manoj Sinha took to Twitter and announced, "An ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the unfortunate bus incident in Katra. Rs. 1 Lakh would be given to those seriously injured."
(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)
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