A tragic road accident in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday morning claimed the lives of at least 21 people and left 29 others injured after a passenger bus lost control and plunged down a steep hillside. The accident occurred near Kagort village in the Ramnagar area around 10 a.m., officials said.
According to authorities, the bus was travelling from Ramnagar to Udhampur carrying nearly 50 passengers, most of whom were daily commuters heading to work. While negotiating a sharp blind curve on the mountainous road, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle. Within seconds, the bus veered off the road and rolled down the slope.
Before landing upside down on the road below, the bus also crushed an auto-rickshaw, injuring the passengers inside the smaller vehicle. The violent fall from a height of nearly 100 meters left the bus severely damaged, with the upper portion almost completely torn apart.
The scene quickly turned chaotic as local residents rushed to help the victims. An Army convoy passing through the area witnessed the accident and immediately stopped to assist. Soldiers secured the area and began pulling survivors from the wreckage while waiting for emergency teams to arrive. Their quick response helped rescue several injured passengers who were trapped inside the mangled vehicle.
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Officials said 15 passengers died on the spot, while several critically injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals. Unfortunately, more people later succumbed to their injuries during treatment, including patients at Udhampur District Hospital, pushing the death toll to 21. Doctors are currently treating the injured, some of whom remain in critical condition.
Rescue workers described the operation as extremely difficult because the bus had been reduced to a twisted heap of metal. Emergency teams had to use a hydraulic crane to straighten the overturned vehicle to check if anyone was trapped beneath it. Police personnel, disaster response teams and medical staff worked together for several hours to complete the rescue effort.
Senior officers from the police department reached the accident site soon after the incident and began coordinating relief work. Local residents also played a major role in helping transport the injured to hospitals and assisting rescue teams in the challenging terrain.
The tragic accident drew condolences from leaders across the country. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. The Prime Minister also announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of those who died and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the administration had been directed to provide every possible assistance to the affected families and ensure proper medical treatment for the injured. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also extended condolences and assured that the government stands firmly with the victims and their families during this difficult time.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he had spoken with district authorities soon after learning about the accident and that arrangements were being made to airlift critically injured victims if required for advanced medical care.
The accident has once again highlighted the risks associated with driving on narrow and winding mountain roads, especially in areas with blind turns and steep slopes. Authorities are expected to review the circumstances surrounding the crash as rescue teams and medical staff continue to assist the injured and support the grieving families.