Udhampur bus accident: 21 killed, 42 injured as bus falls into gorge in Jammu and Kashmir

Twenty-one persons were killed while 42 others were injured when the private bus they were travelling in rolled down a hillside in the Ramnagar area of Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Monday, officials said.

The accident occurred around 10 am near Kaghote village as the driver of the bus was unable to negotiate a sharp curve and one of its tyres burst, the officials said.

The 42-seater bus, which had left from Ramnagar for Udhampur at 9 am, was learnt to be carrying 63 passengers. The bus rolled down around 100 metres and crushed an auto-rickshaw plying on the road below, injuring all 15 persons it was carrying.

Several passengers reportedly jumped out of the bus’ windows to save their lives. The vehicle mostly comprised college students and office-goers. A few survivors claimed the bus was running 15 minutes late due to which the driver was allegedly over-speeding.

An Army convoy on its way from Udhampur to Ramnagar led the rescue operation, which proved extremely challenging as the vehicle had been reduced to a mangled heap of iron, with its top portion almost completely torn off.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives. He announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those injured. “Pained to hear about the loss of lives due to a bus accident in Udhampur. I extend my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their near and dear ones, and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the PM wrote on X.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased, Rs 1 lakh to those seriously injured and Rs 25,000 to persons who sustained minor injuries.