AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 40 WERE FEARED DROWNED FRIDAY AFTER A BUS SKIDDED INTO THE CHENAB RIVER IN INDIA'S NORTHERN JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE, OFFICIALS SAID IN STATEMENTS CARRIED BY DPA. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS THE BUS CARRYING 45 PASSENGERS, WAS TRAVELLING IN THE DODA DISTRICT, ABOUT 140 KILOMETRES SOUTH-EAST OF THE STATE CAPITAL, SRINAGAR, OFFICIALS SAID. THE BODIES OF TWO PASSENGERS WERE RECOVERED AFTER THE BUS PLUNGED 200 FEET DOWN INTO THE RIVER, PR MANHAS, DODA'S SENIOR POLICE OFFICIAL SAID. THREE PASSENGERS SURVIVED THE CRASH AND RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE BUS HAD STARTED FROM A REMOTE VILLAGE WITH 35 PASSENGERS ABOARD AND PICKED UP 10 MORE PASSENGERS ON THE WAY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE DEATH TOLL REMAINED UNCLEAR WITH PTI NEWS AGENCY SAYING 70 PEOPLE HAD BEEN ABOARD THE BUS WHILE IANS NEWS AGENCY SPOKE OF MORE THAN 50 PASSENGERS. POLICE OFFICERS AND SECURITY FORCES WERE DELAYED IN LAUNCHING RESCUE OPERATIONS BECAUSE OF THE REMOTE LOCATION AND THE FAST-FLOWING CURRENTS IN THE CHENAB. STATE OFFICIALS SAID RESCUE OPERATIONS WOULD CONTINUE BUT CHANCES OF FINDING SURVIVORS WERE SLIM, AS IT WAS ALREADY NIGHTFALL. --MORE 22 15 LOCAL TIME 19 15 GMT
