A devastating road accident claimed multiple lives in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday morning when a passenger bus lost control and rolled off a hillside in the Udhampur district, triggering a large-scale rescue operation.
The accident occurred near Kagort village as the bus negotiated a blind curve on its way from a remote village to Udhampur, around 10 in the morning. At least 15 people were killed and 20 others were injured after the vehicle rolled down the hill.
The bus plunged approximately 100 feet from the road into a lower road after failing to navigate a sharp turn on the Udhampur-Ramnagar hilly stretch.
Locals were the first to reach the scene and began rescue efforts, pulling injured passengers out of the wreckage before police and emergency responders joined the operation.
Union Minister of State (MoS) for PMO and Lok Sabha member for the Kathua-Udhampur seat, Dr. Jitendra Singh, confirmed the tragedy. He said on X, “Just now spoke to DC Udhampur, Sh Minga Sherpa after learning about a tragic road accident, less than an hour ago, at village Kanote, involving a public transport bus on way from Ramnagar to Udhampur.” He added that the rescue operation had been immediately undertaken and that arrangements were being made to airlift the seriously injured.
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief, saying, “Tragic road accident in Udhampur is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to bereaved families. May God grant them strength.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed deep sorrow and affirmed that the government stands firmly with the victims and their families, with all necessary assistance being extended.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of those who lost their lives, while Rs 50,000 will be provided to those injured in the accident.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur, Prem Singh, stated that some injured persons have been shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Udhampur town, while others are being treated at Ramnagar. “Right now, the priority is to rescue the injured and provide them with all possible medical help,” he said.
Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the cause of the accident. Overloading, overspeeding, rash and negligent driving, in addition to bad road conditions, are cited as the main causes of accidents in the hilly districts of Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Ramban, Reasi, Kishtwar, and Udhampur.
The accident has once again highlighted the dangers of traveling on narrow, winding roads in hilly regions like Udhampur, where blind curves and steep slopes frequently pose serious risks to public transport vehicles.
Rescue operations were still underway at the time of reporting, with multiple agencies coordinating on the ground.
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