At least 21 people died and 51 others sustained injuries when a passenger bus veered off a mountainous road and plunged approximately 100 metres down a hillside in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. The bus, which was reportedly overcrowded, crashed into an auto-rickshaw before overturning on the road below. The incident occurred near Kagort village in the Ramnagar area around 10 a.m.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the driver of the private bus lost control while negotiating a blind curve. An Army convoy, travelling on the same route, was the first to reach the scene and initiated rescue operations. Over 65 passengers, including women and students, were believed to be on board the bus, which was ferrying daily commuters from Ramnagar to Udhampur.
The rescue effort was described as extremely challenging due to the severely damaged state of the bus, which was reduced to a mangled wreck with its upper section almost entirely detached. Officials confirmed that 15 passengers were declared dead at the accident site. Four more individuals succumbed to their injuries later at a hospital, and two critically injured persons died during treatment at the Udhampur District Hospital, bringing the total death toll to 21.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, informed reporters at the scene that the bus, en route from Ramnagar to Udhampur, lost control on a hilly stretch, plunged down the slope, and crushed an auto-rickshaw upon impact. The Jammu and Kashmir Police acknowledged the significant assistance provided by local residents during the rescue operations. Senior police officials, including the Senior Superintendent of Police and the Station House Officer of Ramnagar, were present at the site.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their condolences for the lives lost in the tragic accident. Prime Minister Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured comprehensive assistance to the victims and their families. The Chief Minister also announced separate ex-gratia amounts: Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for those with serious injuries, and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo stated that 51 people were admitted to various hospitals following the accident. Forty-three injured individuals were receiving treatment at the Udhampur District Hospital, six at a Ramnagar hospital, and two critically injured patients were transferred to the Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu for specialised care. Dulloo emphasised that full care was being taken for the treatment of all injured persons and highlighted the need for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to prevent future occurrences. He stressed the importance of monitoring traffic violations, ensuring vehicles are in good condition, drivers possess valid licenses, and their medical fitness is verified.
In social media posts, Lieutenant Governor Sinha described the Udhampur road accident as heartbreaking and offered deepest condolences to the bereaved families. He directed the district administration, police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the health department to provide all possible assistance to those affected. Chief Minister Abdullah extended heartfelt condolences and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, assuring that the government stands firmly with the victims and their families.
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra, and Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Sat Sharma also conveyed their grief over the incident. Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who represents the Udhampur constituency in the Lok Sabha, expressed sorrow over the tragedy and was expected to visit the injured later on Tuesday evening.
The Chenab Times News Desk