A devastating road accident in Jammu and Kashmir has claimed multiple lives after a passenger bus plunged into a deep gorge in the Udhampur district on Monday morning, triggering widespread grief and rescue operations in the region.
The incident occurred near Kagort village in the Ram Nagar area when the bus, travelling from a remote village towards Udhampur town, lost control while navigating a sharp blind curve on a hilly road. The vehicle reportedly veered off the road and fell into a gorge around 10 AM.
According to officials and PTI reports, at least 21 people lost their lives and around 20 others were injured, several of them critically. Local residents were among the first responders, rushing to the scene and helping rescue survivors from the wreckage before emergency teams arrived.
The severely damaged bus made rescue efforts challenging, but police, administration teams, and disaster response personnel later evacuated the injured and recovered bodies from the crash site. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, where many remain under critical care.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. He announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured, under the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed that he had spoken with the district administration shortly after the accident. He stated that arrangements were being made to airlift critically injured passengers for advanced medical treatment. He also assured that rescue operations were being closely monitored and supported at the highest levels.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed condolences to the bereaved families and directed local authorities, including police, SDRF, and health departments, to ensure immediate relief and medical assistance.
The tragic incident once again highlights the persistent risks of road travel in the mountainous regions of Jammu and Kashmir. Narrow roads, steep slopes, and sharp bends make travel especially hazardous, with the Udhampur district frequently witnessing such accidents due to its challenging terrain.
As rescue and investigation efforts continue, authorities are expected to review the circumstances that led to the crash and assess measures to improve road safety in the region.
