Jammu: Despite so many media campaigns and official awareness programmes, the roads in Jammu and Kashmir continue to be death traps, and that was proved beyond any doubt today as tragedy hit Udhampur in Jammu division, and 21 people died, and 51 got injured as a bus on its way to Udhampur from Ramnagar met with an accident near Kagort village.
The reports said that the bus crushed an auto-rickshaw before landing upside down on the road below. Officials said those travelling in the auto-rickshaw sustained injuries.
An Army convoy passing along the hilly stretch led the rescue operation after the driver of the private bus lost control while negotiating a blind curve near the hilltop Kagort village in the Ramnagar area around 10 am.
Sources said more than 65 passengers, including women and students, were on board, largely daily commuters travelling from Ramnagar to Udhampur. The rescue operation proved extremely challenging as the vehicle had been reduced to a mangled heap of iron, with its top portion almost completely torn off.
The road accident has shocked the entire nation with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoling the loss of lives in the accident.
The PM also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the accident.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured all possible assistance to the families of the deceased and those injured.
They also directed authorities concerned to provide immediate relief and necessary support to those affected.
“A bus en route from Ramnagar to Udhampur lost control while negotiating a hilly stretch, plunged down the slope, and crushed an auto-rickshaw upon landing upside down on the road below. Fifteen passengers were found dead at the scene, while four others later succumbed to their injuries in hospital,” Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma told reporters at the site.
Officials said two more critically injured persons succumbed to their injuries at Udhampur District Hospital during treatment, raising the death toll to 21.
“A bus en route from Ramnagar to Udhampur lost control while negotiating a hilly stretch, plunged down the slope and crushed an auto-rickshaw upon landing upside down on the road below. Fifteen passengers were found dead at the scene, while four later succumbed to their injuries in a hospital,” Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma told reporters at the site.
Police teams, including the Senior Superintendent of Police, SHO Ramnagar, and other officers, reached the spot.
Army personnel also assisted, and a joint rescue operation was carried out.
The vehicle was later straightened using a hydraulic crane, the DIG said.
He said this is a very tragic incident, and “we stand in solidarity with the families who have lost their loved ones. Jammu and Kashmir Police stand with them in this hour of grief.”
Sharma said Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat and Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti are monitoring the situation over the phone.
In a post on X, the Lt Governor said, “Tragic road accident in Udhampur is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to bereaved families. May God grant them strength. Praying for a speedy recovery of the injured.”
Sinha said he directed the district administration, police, the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and health department to provide every possible assistance to those affected.
The chief minister extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a message posted on X, said the road accident in Udhampur is extremely tragic.
“I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. The local administration is fully engaged with utmost promptness in relief and rescue operations. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured” he said.
In a post on X, chief minister said, “The government stands firmly with the victims and their families in this hour of grief, and that all necessary assistance is being extended.”
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for those seriously injured and Rs 25,000 for those who sustained minor injuries in the accident.
Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also expressed grief over the incident.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic Udhampur-Ramnagar bus accident. Condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of those injured,” she said in a post on X.
Expressing grief over the incident, J-K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra urged authorities to immediately provide all possible relief, proper medical care, and necessary support to the affected families in this hour of immense pain.
JK Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone expressed shock over the accident and demanded compensation for deceased and injured.
Earlier, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, Minga Sherpa following the accident, informing that arrangements are being made to airlift the seriously injured victims.
“Just now spoke to DC Udhampur, Minga Sherpa after learning about a tragic road accident, less than an hour ago, at village Kanote, involving a public transport bus on way from Ramnagar to Udhampur.
Sharma said the locals extended significant help during the rescue operations.
Police teams, including the senior superintendent of police, the station house officer (SHO) of Ramnagar and other officers, visited the spot.
The vehicle was later straightened using a hydraulic crane, the DIG said.
He said this was a very tragic incident and “we stand in solidarity with the families who have lost their loved ones. The Jammu and Kashmir Police stand with them in this hour of grief”.
Sharma said Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat and Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti are monitoring the situation over the phone.
An Army soldier, who was leading a convoy from Udhampur to Ramnagar, said they swung into action immediately after noticing the civilian vehicle rolling down the hill.
“I was leading the convoy when the accident occurred on the way. The vehicle fell from a height of nearly 100 metres. We immediately secured the area and launched the rescue operations, thus saving many precious lives with great difficulty,” he said.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo said 51 people were admitted to hospitals following the accident.
He said 43 of the injured are admitted in the Udhampur District Hospital and six in a Ramnagar hospital, while two critically-injured patients have been shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu for specialised treatment.
“This is a very painful accident. As far as the injured are concerned, full care is being taken for their treatment,” Dulloo told reporters at the Udhampur District Hospital.
Lauding the effective and coordinated rescue operations, the chief secretary said “our effort should be to ensure that such accidents do not happen in the future”.
“There is a need for stricter enforcement so that traffic violations are closely monitored. It must be ensured that there is no overloading, vehicles are in good condition, drivers have valid licences and their medical fitness is verified. All these aspects need to be emphasised,” he said.
