21 dead, 51 injured as bus rolls down hill in J&K's Udhampur

Jammu: At least 21 people were killed and 51 injured on Monday when an overcrowded passenger bus plunged nearly 100 metres down a hillside in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district, crushing an auto-rickshaw before landing upside down on the road below, officials said.

An Army convoy passing along the hilly stretch led the rescue operations after the driver of the private bus lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a blind curve near the hilltop Kagort village in the Ramnagar area around 10 am, the officials said.

They said more than 65 passengers, including women and students, were on board, largely daily commuters travelling from Ramnagar to Udhampur.

The rescue operations proved to be extremely challenging as the bus was reduced to a mangled heap of iron, with its top portion almost completely torn off.

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President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the accident. Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured the families of the deceased and those injured of all possible assistance. Abdullah also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for those seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those who sustained minor injuries in the accident.

"A bus en route from Ramnagar to Udhampur lost control while negotiating a hilly stretch, plunged down the slope and crushed an auto-rickshaw upon landing upside down on the road below. Fifteen passengers were found dead at the scene, while four later succumbed to their injuries in a hospital," Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma told reporters at the site.

The officials said two more critically-injured persons succumbed to their injuries at the Udhampur District Hospital during treatment, raising the death toll to 21.

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Among those killed were Tilo Ram, Prem Nath, Kartar Chand, Som Raj, Ram Chand, Gita Devi, Romal Singh, Sharda Devi, Sunny, Vishali Devi, Pushap Raj, Ramolo Ram, Gulabo Devi, Jalam Singh, Kesar Singh, Kanta Devi and Anita Devi -- all residents of Ramnagar.

Sharma said the locals extended significant help during the rescue operations.

Police teams, including the senior superintendent of police, the station house officer (SHO) of Ramnagar and other officers, visited the spot.

The vehicle was later straightened using a hydraulic crane, the DIG said.

He said this was a very tragic incident and "we stand in solidarity with the families who have lost their loved ones. The Jammu and Kashmir Police stands with them in this hour of grief".

Sharma said Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat and Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti are monitoring the situation over the phone.
An Army soldier, who was leading a convoy from Udhampur to Ramnagar, said they swung into action immediately after noticing the civilian vehicle rolling down the hill.
"I was leading the convoy when the accident occurred on the way. The vehicle fell from a height of nearly 100 metres. We immediately secured the area and launched the rescue operations, thus saving many precious lives with great difficulty," he said.

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo said 51 people are admitted in hospitals following the accident.

He said 43 of the injured are admitted in the Udhampur District Hospital and six in a Ramnagar hospital, while two critically-injured patients have been shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu for specialised treatment.

"This is a very painful accident. As far as the injured are concerned, full care is being taken for their treatment," Dulloo told reporters at the Udhampur District Hospital.
Lauding the effective and coordinated rescue operations, the chief secretary said "our effort should be to ensure that such accidents do not happen in the future".

"There is a need for stricter enforcement so that traffic violations are closely monitored. It must be ensured that there is no overloading, vehicles are in good condition, drivers have valid licences and their medical fitness is verified. All these aspects need to be emphasised," he said.

In a post on X, the LG said, "Tragic road accident in Udhampur is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to bereaved families. May God grant them strength. Praying for a speedy recovery of the injured."

Sinha said he has directed the district administration, police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the health department to provide every possible assistance to those affected.

The chief minister extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

In a post on X, Abdullah said: "The government stands firmly with the victims and their families in this hour of grief, and that all necessary assistance is being extended."
Former chief minister and People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra and Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Sat Sharma also expressed grief over the incident.

Union minister Jitendra Singh, who represents the Udhampur constituency in the Lok Sabha, condoled the tragedy and is expected to visit the injured in the hospitals on Tuesday evening.