Udhampur Bus Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 21; 61 Injured

Jammu (IANS): The death toll from the tragic bus accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district climbed to 21 on Monday, while 61 others sustained injuries.

Union Minister of State (MoS) and local MP Jitendra Singh confirmed the updated figures on X. “21 casualties so far and 61 injured,” Singh stated. He noted that authorities have shifted the injured to Udhampur Hospital, while an air ambulance is transporting the most critically injured person to the Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu.

Emergency Response and Medical Aid

The accident occurred on Monday morning as a public transport bus travelled from Ramnagar toward Udhampur town. The vehicle turned turtle, trapping passengers inside.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Udhampur) Prem Singh confirmed that rescue teams have distributed the injured between the GMC hospital in Udhampur and medical facilities in Ramnagar. “Right now, the priority is to rescue the injured and provide them with all possible medical help,” Singh said.

Government Condolences

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed deep sorrow over the incident. His office released a statement affirming that “the government stands firmly with the victims and their families in this hour of grief” and has extended all necessary assistance.

Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha also called the accident “heartbreaking.” He directed the district administration, Police, SDRF, and Health Department to provide every possible resource to those affected.

Investigating the Cause

Officials are currently investigating the exact cause of the crash. However, the traffic department noted that several recurring factors contribute to accidents in the hilly terrains of Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar:

• Overloading and over speeding
• Rash and negligent driving
• Poor road conditions

To mitigate these risks, the traffic department has deployed special teams to these districts to monitor road rage and human error, aiming to prevent further loss of life.