12 people killed in road accident in India-controlled Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least12 people were killed and seven others injured Tuesday during a collision between two passenger vehicles in India-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The accident took place on Jammu-Pathankote road near Kathua, 85 km south of Jammu, the winter capital of India-controlled Kashmir.

According to the police the accident took place around 01:30 a.m. local time.

"A passenger bus collided with a tempo traveler in Kathua early morning. The accident has claimed 12 lives so far. The seven injured have been hospitalized, of whom some are stated to be critical," said a police officer posted in Kathua.

The passenger bus was on its way to the northern Indian city of Amritsar when a mini-bus collided with it.

Deadly road accidents are common in India-controlled Kashmir, mainly in the mountainous areas and often caused by overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving.