SRINAGAR: At least nineteen people were killed and several others sustained injuries when a passenger bus veered off the road and plunged into a gorge in Kagort village of Ramnagar in Udhampur district on Monday.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that rescue teams, including police and locals, immediately rushed to the accident site upon receiving information to initiate a rescue operation. Officials confirmed that 19 individuals lost their lives in the incident, while the injured have been transported to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Udhampur-Reasi Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, stated that the accident occurred at a sharp curve on the road. He suggested that the driver might have lost control while navigating the curve, leading the vehicle to hit a parapet and subsequently fall into the gorge. Sharma added that whether the vehicle was overloaded is part of the ongoing investigation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of lives, offering condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the swift recovery of the injured. He announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of those who died and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who is also the Member of Parliament from the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, confirmed that 16 people died on the spot. He reported that rescue and evacuation operations were underway with the presence of Police, SDRF, and district administration teams. The injured were being moved to the Government Medical College (GMC) Udhampur for urgent treatment, and Singh stated that his office was in constant communication with the authorities on the ground.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha conveyed his deepest sympathies to the affected families, praying for strength and a speedy recovery for the injured. He directed the district administration, police, SDRF, and the health department to provide all necessary assistance to those impacted by the tragedy.
The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, also expressed profound grief, assuring that the government stands with the victims and their families during this difficult time and is extending all required support.
The Chenab Times News Desk