Initial investigations point to mechanical failure, driver error, road conditions or a combination of factors as possible causes of the accident, which occurred at 10 am in the hilly Khagote area of the Ghat’s winding roads.
The bus rolled into a ditch and overturned on the road below, crushing an auto-rickshaw, injuring its occupants, officials said. The bus was going from Ramnagar to Udhampur city. DIG (Reasi Range) Shiv Kumar Sharma said, “It lost control while moving on the hilly road.”
After seeing the accident, a passing army convoy stopped, whose personnel started rescue operations before Jammu and Kashmir Police and local people took the injured passengers to nearby hospitals. Many people were later taken to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Udhampur city. Some were sent to Jammu.
According to officials, 19 passengers died on the spot. DIG Sharma said, “Two seriously injured people died in Udhampur District Hospital.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Draupadi Murmu expressed grief. The PM announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured passengers. “Saddened to hear about the loss of lives due to the bus accident in Udhampur. I express my heartfelt condolences. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Mosi posted on Twitter.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed condolences over the deaths and extended support. Omar’s office posted, “Though no amount of assistance can compensate for the irreparable loss of life, but as an immediate relief, the CM has announced an immediate relief of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased, Rs 1 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those with minor injuries.”
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha described the accident as “heartbreaking” and assured all possible assistance. “My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May God give them strength,” Sinha posted on Instagram. Union minister and Udhampur MP Jitendra Singh vowed to provide all possible help and said he had spoken to local officials. “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” Singh posted on X.
The hilly forested areas of Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban in Jammu region have witnessed many fatal road accidents over the years due to a dangerous combination of steep slopes, narrow carriageways, blind turns, seasonal road deterioration and heavy traffic.
On January 22 this year, 10 soldiers were killed when a bulletproof army vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a 200 feet deep gorge in Khanni Top area of Doda.
On May 31, 2024, 22 pilgrims from UP died when their bus fell into a ditch in Akhnoor, Jammu. On November 15, 2023, 38 passengers died when a bus fell off a steep slope in Doda. On July 1, 2019, an overloaded bus fell into a ditch in Kishtwar, killing 35 people, while on May 12, 2015, a similar accident in Udhampur resulted in a bus crash, killing 24 people.
