Killer roads in Doda claimed 39 lives on Wednesday when a bus with 52 passengers fell into a 200m deep gorge at Galgandhar stretch on the Doda-Baderwah highway.

This is the 11th road accident in Doda this year. About 120 accidents in Doda and Kashtiwar last year left 59 dead and 253 injured. Doda district development commissioner Sharief-ud-din said the bus driver probably could not negotiate a narrow stretch and rolled into the gorge. "The bus was coming from Baderwah to Doda. Boulders were scattered around as the road is under construction," said Sharief.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah, who was in the assembly, immediately flew to the accident site. In the assembly, Congress MLA GM Saroori asked the state to take steps to prevent accidents in the area.

Ishfaq-ul-Hassan/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication