Udhampur bus accident toll rises to 21; 61 injured

Jammu — The death toll in the tragic bus accident in Udhampur has climbed to 21, with 61 others injured, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh confirmed on Monday.

In a post on X, Singh said the injured have been shifted to hospitals in Udhampur, while one critically injured person is being airlifted to the Government Medical College Jammu for advanced treatment. He also expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and assured that all possible assistance is being provided.

The accident occurred earlier in the day when a bus travelling from Ramnagar to Udhampur overturned under circumstances that are still being investigated. Officials said rescue operations were prioritised to ensure immediate medical care for the injured.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Prem Singh stated that some of the injured were initially taken to local facilities in Ramnagar, while others were shifted to hospitals in Udhampur for treatment.

Reacting to the incident, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep grief and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He said directions had been issued to the district administration, police, SDRF, and health departments to provide all necessary support.

The office of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also conveyed condolences, stating that the government stands firmly with the victims and their families during this difficult time.

Authorities said the exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined. However, officials often cite factors such as overloading, overspeeding, rash driving, and difficult road conditions as common causes of accidents in hilly districts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Udhampur and surrounding regions.

Special traffic enforcement teams have been deployed in such areas to curb violations and improve road safety, but accidents continue to pose a serious challenge in these terrains.

With inputs from IANS