Udhampur Bus Accident - 22 death confirmed so far

20 April, New Delhi.

A devastating tragedy struck Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Monday morning, leaving at least 22 people dead and over 30 others critically injured after a passenger bus plunged into a deep gorge.

The ill-fated bus was traveling from Ramnagar to Udhampur when the disaster occurred near Kanote village. According to authorities, the driver lost control while attempting to negotiate a sharp, blind curve on a treacherous hilly road. The vehicle skidded, overturned, and rolled down a steep 100-foot rocky slope, crashing onto a lower road where it also struck an auto-rickshaw.

A massive rescue operation was immediately launched by the Army, police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local residents. Rescue teams worked tirelessly to pull victims from the wreckage, shifting the injured to the Government Medical College (GMC) in Udhampur and other nearby facilities. Due to the severity of the injuries, authorities fear the death toll may still rise.

The catastrophic loss of life has triggered a wave of mourning. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed their deepest condolences to the heartbroken families. The Prime Minister's Office announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.

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As rescue and recovery operations continue, the local administration is making arrangements to airlift those who are critically wounded for specialized medical care. This heart-wrenching incident serves as a grim reminder of the deadly risks on the region's mountainous roads, leaving dozens of families shattered by an unimaginable and sudden loss.