At least 21 passengers lost their lives and 51 others were injured when a bus skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in the Udhampur district of Jammu on Monday morning. The preliminary investigation indicated that the crash, which occurred around 10 AM in the hilly Khagote area, may have resulted from a combination of mechanical failure, driver error, and poor road conditions.
According to officials, the bus, which was en route from Ramnagar to Udhampur town, rolled down the gorge and landed upside down, crushing an auto-rickshaw below. The bus reportedly lost control while navigating the winding roads of the hilly terrain. DIG (Reasi Range) Shiv Kumar Sharma confirmed that an Army convoy passing by stopped to assist in the rescue efforts, with military personnel collaborating with J&K police and local residents to transport the injured to nearby hospitals. Many were later taken to the Government Medical College & Hospital in Udhampur, while others were sent to Jammu for treatment.
Initial reports indicated that 19 passengers died at the scene of the accident. “Two critically injured individuals succumbed to their injuries at Udhampur District Hospital,” stated DIG Sharma.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu expressed their condolences. The Prime Minister announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh (approximately $2,400) for the families of each deceased passenger and ₹50,000 (around $600) for each person critically injured. “I am saddened to hear about the loss of lives due to a bus accident in Udhampur. I extend my heartfelt condolences and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Modi posted on social media platform X.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed his condolences and announced immediate relief of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased, ₹1 lakh for those seriously injured, and ₹25,000 for those with minor injuries. “While no amount of assistance can ever compensate for the irreparable loss of lives, this is a gesture of immediate support,” his office stated.
Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha called the accident “heartbreaking” and assured all possible assistance to affected families. “My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May God grant them strength,” Sinha wrote on X. Union minister and Udhampur MP Jitendra Singh also extended his sympathies and confirmed he had been in contact with local authorities to provide assistance.
The region of Udhampur, along with Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban, has a history of fatal accidents attributed to the challenging combination of steep gradients, narrow roads, blind curves, seasonal road wear, and heavy traffic. Recent statistics highlight the ongoing risk on these hazardous routes. For instance, 10 soldiers died earlier this year when their Army vehicle skidded in Doda, and in May, 22 pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh lost their lives in a similar incident in Akhnoor.
The concerning pattern of fatal accidents in this region continues, with previous incidents resulting in significant loss of life, including a 2019 accident in Kishtwar that claimed 35 lives and another in Udhampur in 2015 that killed 24 passengers.
