• Dozens rescued as Army, locals launched massive rescue operation
• PM Modi, Prez Murmu, LG Sinha, CM Omar announce ex-gratia
• Probe ordered into tragic accident
• Driver loses control at blind curve stretch
Irfan Yattoo
Srinagar: In one of the deadliest road accidents reported in recent months in Jammu and Kashmir, at least 21 people lost their lives and 51 others sustained injuries after an overcrowded passenger bus veered off a hilly road and plunged nearly 100 metres down a steep slope in Udhampur district on Monday, officials said.
The tragic accident occurred around 10 am near Kagort village in the Ramnagar area when the driver of the private bus reportedly lost control while negotiating a blind curve along the mountainous stretch.
The vehicle, carrying more than 65 passengers, most of them daily commuters, women and students travelling from Ramnagar to Udhampur, rolled down the hillside before crashing onto the road below.
In a horrifying sequence of events, the bus also struck and crushed an auto-rickshaw during its fall, before landing upside down. The impact left the vehicle severely mangled, with its upper portion almost completely ripped apart, making rescue operations extremely difficult.
Eyewitnesses and officials described the scene as chaotic and distressing, with injured passengers trapped inside the twisted metal structure of the bus, crying out for help.
The gravity of the accident prompted an immediate response from an Army convoy that happened to be passing along the same route at the time.
Army personnel were the first to reach the site and quickly initiated rescue operations.
“We noticed the vehicle rolling down the slope from a height of nearly 100 metres. Without delay, we secured the area and began pulling out the injured. It was a challenging task, but many lives were saved due to swift action,” said an Army soldier who was part of the convoy.
Army Spokesman told Kashmir Horizon that in a prompt and highly coordinated humanitarian response, troops of the Indian Army rescued dozens of civilians following a tragic bus accident near Ramnagar.
“The accident occurred at approximately 9:40 am when a private passenger bus travelling from Ramnagar to Udhampur veered off the road near Village Kaghote and plunged nearly 70 feet into a deep gorge. It caused multiple casualties and left several passengers trapped inside the severely mangled vehicle,” he said.
Army spokesman further said that troops from a Battalion of the Gorkha Rifles, who were en route to Samnabanj for a training exercise, happened to be in the vicinity and were the first responders at the scene.
“Acting with remarkable speed, courage and presence of mind, the soldiers immediately launched rescue operations under extremely challenging terrain conditions,” he said.
He said to streamline the rescue and relief efforts, an Ad-Hoc Incident Control Centre was promptly established at the site under the supervision of the Commanding Officer of a Battalion of the Dogra Regiment. It ensured effective coordination among multiple teams engaged in the operation.
“A total of 10 rescue teams, comprising personnel from the Dogra Regiment and Gorkha Rifles, were mobilised and deployed across the accident site. These teams worked in close coordination to extricate victims, provide medical assistance and facilitate evacuation,” he said,
Local residents also played a crucial role, joining hands with the Army and police teams to evacuate the injured and retrieve bodies from the wreckage.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, who visited the site, said that 15 passengers were declared dead on the spot, while several others succumbed to injuries later at medical facilities.
“Four injured persons died at the hospital shortly after being admitted, and two more critically injured victims succumbed during treatment, taking the total death toll to 21,” he said.
The deceased have been identified as residents of Ramnagar and surrounding areas, including 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, among others.
Police teams, including senior officers, reached the accident site soon after the incident and coordinated with emergency services to manage the rescue and relief operations.
A hydraulic crane was later used to straighten the overturned bus and assist in the extraction of remaining victims.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo confirmed that 51 injured persons are undergoing treatment at various hospitals. Of them, 43 are admitted to the District Hospital Udhampur, six are being treated at a hospital in Ramnagar, while two critically injured patients have been referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu for specialised care.
Describing the incident as deeply painful, Dulloo said that all necessary medical assistance is being provided to the injured.
He also lauded the coordinated efforts of the Army, police, district administration and local volunteers in carrying out the rescue operation.
“At such times, the priority is to save lives and ensure proper treatment. At the same time, there is a need to reflect and strengthen preventive measures so that such tragedies can be avoided in the future,” CS Duloo said. He stressed the importance of stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, particularly in hilly regions prone to accidents.
CS also called for stringent checks on overloading, vehicle fitness, driver licensing and medical fitness, noting that lapses in these areas often contribute to such incidents.
The tragedy has drawn widespread condolences from across the country.
President Droupadi Murmu expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha termed the incident “heartbreaking” and extended his sympathies to the bereaved families.
He directed the district administration, police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and health authorities to ensure that all possible assistance is provided to the victims.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed grief over the tragic accident and assured full support to the affected families. He announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who died, Rs 1 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries.
“The government stands firmly with the victims and their families in this hour of grief. Every effort is being made to provide relief and ensure proper medical care for the injured,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.
Several political leaders, including former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, Jammu and Kashmir Congress Chief Tariq Hameed Karra and BJP president Sat Sharma also expressed their condolences and called for improved road safety measures.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who represents the Udhampur parliamentary constituency, condoled the loss of lives and is expected to visit the injured at hospitals.
Meanwhile, police have initiated an investigation into the cause of the accident. Preliminary findings suggest that overloading and possible driver error may have contributed to the tragedy, though a detailed probe is underway.
