At least nine pilgrims died and 20 others seriously wounded when a bus they were travelling in fell into a deep ravine in Kotli area of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

The bus with number-plate of IDT-1493 was returning to Gujranwala after attending Nairian Shareef urs in Azad Kashmir when it met the accident. The driver lost control of the vehicle while trying to negotiate a sharp turn at Potha Jarahi area of Kotli.

As many as 29 passengers were on board the bus when it plunged into the ravine. Nine people lost their lives on the spot while remaining 20 were injured, five of them seriously.

Rescue personnel rushed to the accident site and shifted the dead bodies and the injured to Mirpur DHQ hospital.

The Mirpur commissioner reached the hospital and told the media that the failure of brakes could be the reason for such a terrible accident.

Rescue sources feared the death toll may rise as some of the injured were in critical condition.

Reporters: Bashir Chaudhry and Nadeem Chaudhry