At least four bodies have been retrieved during a rescue operation at Gagangir Sonamarg area after a vehicle carrying tourists plunged into nallah Sindh along Srinagar-Leh highway this evening.

An official said  that soon after receiving information about the tragic incident, a widescale rescue operation was jointly launched by Police, Army's 34 Assam Rifles, Traffic Rural Police, Civil administration, locals, SDRF and NDRF, which yielded retrieval of four bodies.

"All the persons boarding the vehicle except for the driver were tourists," the official said, adding, "except for him (driver) no one other person has been rescued safely up to now."

"Due to ongoing heavy rains in the area, the operation has been called off till tomorrow," the official added.