UP CM Yogi Adityanath condemns 'cowardly attack' on pilgrims in Jammu-Kashmir

LUCKNOW: Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, strongly denounced the terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district on Sunday, labeling it a 'cowardly attack'.
"The cowardly attack on pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir is extremely sad. My heartfelt condolences to the departed souls. My sympathies are with the grieving families. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed souls a place at his holy feet and provide speedy recovery to all the injured," Adityanath posted on X in Hindi.
In another post on X, the chief minister said, "Instructions have been given to the Additional Chief Secretary Home and Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh to immediately contact the local administration and ensure proper treatment and safety of the injured in the state."
The incident occurred around 6.10pm near Teryath village in Poni area when terrorists opened fire on the bus, which was traveling from Shiv Khori temple to Katra.
The attack resulted in the death of nine individuals and left 33 others injured. Following the gunfire, the 53-seater bus lost control and plummeted into a deep gorge.
The deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Keshav Prasad Maurya, also expressed his strong condemnation of the terrorist attack on the pilgrims.
"The terrorist attack on a bus full of devotees going to Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir is extremely cowardly and condemnable. I pray to God that the injured in the incident recover as soon as possible and that the departed souls find a place at his holy feet. Om Shanti," Maurya posted on X in Hindi.
(With inputs from PTI)