21 dead as bus falls into gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur

Srinagar: At least 21 people were killed and 29 others sustained injuries when a passenger bus skidded off the road while negotiating a turn in J&K's Udhampur district. The bus crushed an auto-rickshaw on the road below before landing upside down.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah and lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha expressed solidarity with the families and announced ex-gratia relief for the families of both the dead and injured.

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The incident took place near a hilltop of Kagort village in Ramnagar at around 10 am, when the bus lost control while negotiating a blind curve. The bus was carrying 50 passengers, mostly heading to their daily jobs, from Ramnagar to Udhampur.

"This was a horrible crash. We miraculously survived with the immediate help of Army men who were travelling on the same road," a survivor said. An Army convoy passing along the stretch led the rescue operation. A team of police and district administration, along with locals, reached the spot for a quick rescue operation.

The bus rolled around 100 meters down the hill on another road with its roof torn apart. The rescue operation was carried out with the help of a hydraulic crane to remove debris and ensure relocation of the injured. The administration has started an investigation into the exact cause of accident.

"Pained to hear about the loss of lives due to a bus accident in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. I extend my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," said Modi. He announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives and ₹50,000 to those injured.

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The J&K CM also expressed condolences with the families and also announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased, ₹1 lakh to those seriously injured, and ₹25,000 to persons 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 autorickshaw upon landing upside down on the road below. Fifteen passengers were found dead at the scene, while four others later succumbed to injuries in hospital," Udhampur-Reasi Range DIG Shiv Kumar Sharma told reporters at the site. officials said two critically injured persons succumbed to injuries at District Hospital.