21 dead, 29 injured as passenger bus rolls down hillside in Udhampur

Jammu, Apr 20: In a tragic road accident that sent shockwaves across Jammu and Kashmir, at least 21 people lost their lives and 29 others sustained injuries after a passenger bus rolled down a hillside in Udhampur district on Monday morning. The mishap took place on the Ramnagar-Udhampur route when the bus reportedly lost control near a blind curve in the hilly Kagort village area and plunged down the slope before landing upside down on the road below.

Officials said the ill-fated private bus was carrying around 50 passengers, most of them daily commuters travelling from Ramnagar to Udhampur for work. During the fall, the bus also crushed an auto-rickshaw before overturning. Those travelling in the auto-rickshaw sustained injuries but, according to officials, survived the accident. The scale of the tragedy became immediately apparent as the bus was badly mangled in the crash, with its upper portion almost completely torn apart, making rescue operations extremely difficult.

The accident occurred at around 10 am while the vehicle was negotiating a dangerous stretch of road. An Army convoy passing through the area was among the first to respond and immediately launched rescue efforts. Army personnel, along with police teams and local residents, worked together in a joint operation to pull out the injured and recover the bodies from the wreckage. Officials said the presence of the Army convoy proved crucial in ensuring a timely rescue response in the challenging terrain.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, said that 15 passengers were found dead at the spot, while four others later succumbed to injuries in hospital. He added that two more critically injured persons died during treatment at Udhampur District Hospital, raising the death toll to 21. He described the incident as deeply tragic and said the police stand in solidarity with the bereaved families in this hour of immense grief.

Officials said local residents extended valuable support in the rescue operation, while senior police officers, including the Senior Superintendent of Police and SHO Ramnagar, rushed to the site. A hydraulic crane was later used to straighten the overturned vehicle and assist in the recovery process. An Army soldier who was leading the convoy said the bus had rolled down from a height of nearly 100 metres and that the rescue was carried out under highly difficult conditions, with many precious lives saved through swift action.

The tragedy drew condolences from the highest levels of leadership. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives. The Prime Minister also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed deep sorrow and assured all possible assistance to the families of the deceased and those injured.

In his message, the Lieutenant Governor termed the accident heartbreaking and said he had directed the district administration, police, SDRF and the health department to provide every possible assistance to those affected. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, stating that the government stands firmly with the victims and their families in this difficult hour.

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also expressed grief over the accident, while J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra urged the authorities to ensure immediate relief, proper medical care and all necessary support to the affected families. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said he had spoken to Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Minga Sherpa soon after the incident and that arrangements were being made to airlift the seriously injured if needed. He added that he was in constant touch with the local administration and rescue teams.

The heartbreaking accident has once again drawn attention to the dangers associated with travel on narrow and mountainous roads in Jammu and Kashmir, where difficult terrain and risky curves continue to pose a serious challenge to commuter safety. As the administration focuses on treatment of the injured and support for grieving families, the tragedy has left an entire region in mourning and raised fresh concerns over road safety on hilly routes.