Udhampur Bus Accident: 21 Killed, Several Injured After Bus Falls Into Gorge in J&K
At least 21 people were killed after a passenger bus plunged into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on April 20, officials said, as police arrested the driver and launched an investigation into alleged negligence.
The bus, travelling from Ramnagar to Udhampur, lost control while negotiating a sharp curve near Kagote village and fell nearly 100 metres down a hillside, police said.
Locals were among the first to reach the crash site and helped pull passengers from the wreckage before emergency teams arrived. The injured were shifted to Government Medical College, Udhampur, where several remain in critical condition, hospital authorities said.
Police said the driver of the bus has been arrested and questioned. Preliminary findings suggest negligence, including possible overspeeding and unsafe handling of the vehicle, though officials have not ruled out mechanical failure.
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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the crash appeared to involve negligence and confirmed that a formal inquiry has been ordered.
He said initial assessments indicated that the regular driver was not operating the vehicle at the time of the crash and that the bus had prior traffic violations, which will be examined as part of the investigation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced ex-gratia relief of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh for the injured, officials said.
Pained to hear about the loss of lives due to a bus accident in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. I extend my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 20, 2026
An ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to…
Road accidents are frequent in Jammu and Kashmir’s mountainous regions due to narrow roads, sharp bends and difficult terrain.
Authorities said the investigation is continuing and further details will be released as they become available.
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