THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is a Keralite among the 44 jawans killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on Thursday when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus they were travelling in. The terror group has claimed responsibility for the incident. Many sustained serious injuries in the attack.

The Keralite dead has been identified as V V Vasantha Kumar, son of late Vasudevan near veterinary college at KunnathidavakaVillage at Vythiri in Wayanad. He is 82nd battalion member of CRPF. He had 18 years of service and had only two more years to retire. He came home for leave on February 2nd and returned back on the 9th. As soon as he reached Kashmir, he had phoned his mother and told her about the cold weather. Officials had yesterday informed his house that he had been seriously injured in the attack.

He leaves behind his wife and two children. He lost his father when he was very young.

The casualties are likely to go up. Body parts were seen strewn around the area. The vehicle was blown up on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Awantipora area of the district, a police official said. It was the deadliest attack in terms of casualties in the last three decades of militancy in the state.

About 2,500 personnel were travelling to the valley at the time of the attack.