Bus plunges into Udhampur gorge, 21 dead | India News
Preliminary investigations point to mechanical failure, driver error, road conditions or a combination of possible causes for the 10 am accident in the hilly Khagote area marked by Ghat road.Officials said the bus overturned on the embankment and overturned on a road below, crushing an autorickshaw, injuring its occupants. The bus was going from Ramnagar to Udhampur city. DIG (Riasi Range) Shiv Kumar Sharma said, “It lost control while negotiating the hilly stretch.A passing army convoy stopped after noticing the accident, its personnel led the rescue before the J&K Police and locals shifted the injured passengers to a nearby hospital. Many were later taken to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Udhampur city. Some have been sent to Jammu.According to officials, 19 of the passengers died on the spot. “Two critically injured persons succumbed to their injuries at Udhampur district hospital,” said DIG Sharma.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Draupadi Murmu expressed condolences. The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured passengers. “Sad to hear of loss of life in Udhampur bus accident. My heartfelt condolences. Praying for speedy recovery of injured,” Mosi posted on X.Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also condoled the death and extended a helping hand. “While no amount of assistance can ever compensate for the irreparable loss of life, as an immediate relief, the Chief Minister has announced an immediate relief of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of each deceased, Rs 1 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for the slightly injured,” Omar’s office posted.J&K Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha called the accident “heartbreaking” and assured all possible assistance. “My deepest condolences to the bereaved family. May God give them strength,” Sinha posted on X. Union minister and Udhampur MP Jitendra Singh promised all help, saying he had spoken to local authorities. “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” Singh posted on X.The hilly forest areas of Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban in Jammu region have witnessed a number of fatal road accidents over the years due to a dangerous combination of steep gradients, narrow carriageways, blind turns, seasonal road deterioration and heavy vehicles.On January 22 this year, 10 soldiers were killed when their bulletproof army vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a 200-foot ditch in the Khanni Top area of Doda.On May 31, 2024, 22 pilgrims from UP died when their bus fell into a ditch in Akhnur, Jammu. On November 15, 2023, 38 passengers died after their bus fell down a steep slope in Doda. On July 1, 2019, an overloaded bus fell into a ghat in Kishtwar, killing 35 people, and 24 passengers died when a bus met with a similar accident in Udhampur on May 12, 2015.
