Thirty passengers were killed and 15 injured when an overloaded matador van rolled down a hill in Poonch district today.

The van, which was on its way from Surankote to Poonch, skidded off the road and rolled down the hill in Kalayee area in the border district this afternoon, a defence spokesman told PTI. All the victims were passengers of the van.

It fell into Poonch river resulting in death of 30 passengers and injuries to 15 others, he said.

Soon after the mishap, troops of 27 Rashtriya Rifles rushed to the spot and started rescue operations.

The troops recovered 30 bodies from the submerged van, he said adding that 15 injured were rushed to Poonch hospital.

The condition of seven injured persons was critical and they are being airlifted to GMC hospital in Jammu, the spokesman added.

This is the second road accident in Poonch district in the last one week. On April 17, sixteen people were killed and 24 wounded when when an over-crowded matador rolled down hill in Poonch district.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Transport Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen has condoled the death of the passengers in accident.

He expressed profound grief and shock over the tragic accident.

He directed Deputy Commissioner of Poonch to provide immediate relief to the kin of the deceased besides special medicare to those who were injured.

(With PTI Inputs)