21 Dead, Over 40 Injured In Udhampur Accident

• Ovaise Gul
• Comments 0
• 21 Apr 2026

Bus plunges 100 metres into gorge Tyre burst caused vehicle to lose control Two critical shifted to GMC Jammu Prez, PM, HM, LG, CM express grief PM, CM give Rs 2 lakh each as ex gratia Minister, CS visit injured at GMC

Srinagar, Apr 20: Twenty-one passengers, including a 17-year-old girl and seven women, died while over 40 others were injured in a deadly road accident on Monday morning at Kagort village along the Ramnagar-Udhampur route.

A bus bearing registration number JK14D-2121, carrying passengers from Ramnagar to Udhampur, met with an accident along the route at around 9:50 AM after a tyre of the overspeeding vehicle burst, officials informed Rising Kashmir. They said the bus plunged nearly 100 metres down a hillside.

Soon after the accident, senior officers, including Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Udhampur-Reasi range Shiv Kumar Sharma and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Udhampur Amrit Pal Singh, reached the spot to lead the rescue operation. The rescue operation was launched immediately with the help of locals, and bodies were recovered while the injured were simultaneously taken to Sub District Hospital Ramnagar for treatment.

Officials identified the 21 deceased as: Tilo Ram, Prem Nath, Kartar Chand, Som Raj, Ram Chand, Gita Devi, Romal Singh, Sharda Devi, Sunny, Vishali Devi, Pushap Raj, Ramola Ram, Gulabo Devi, Jalam Singh, Kesar Singh, Kanta Devi, Anita Devi, Prem Singh, Archana Devi (17), Poli Devi, and Ramesh Kumar.

Among the injured are Vishal, Kaka Ram, Sushil Sharma, Rakesh Sharma, Arti Devi, Raj Kumar, Anita Sharma, Rattan Chand, Sudesh Kumar, Savita Devi, Hans Raj, Sunita Devi, Subhash Kumar, Vansksha Rani, Sheela Devi, Meenasha Devi, Babli Devi, Anita Devi, Leema, Neetu Rani, Sahil Thapa, Apeksha Gupta, Mairav Mahajan (7), Makhani Devi, Koushalya Devi, Sachin Kumar, Neelam Devi, Sandia Devi, Vipan Kumar, Arun Kumar Verma, Archana, Ram Kumar, and Swam Singh. Among them, 12 have been referred to the Udhampur medical facility, while seven others have been discharged after necessary treatment.

Member of Parliament from Udhampur and Union Minister of State (MoS), Dr Jitendra Singh confirmed 21 casualties and 61 injured. He informed that two critically injured patients have been shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu.

President Droupadi Murmu said she was deeply saddened to learn about the deaths of several people in the bus accident that occurred in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir. “I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy. I pray for the swift recovery of the injured,” she wrote on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. "Pained to hear about the loss of lives due to a bus accident in Udhampur. I extend my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," the PMO posted on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday also expressed condolences. In a post on X, Shah 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” the Home Minister said.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in a post on X, said: "Tragic road accident in Udhampur is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May God grant them strength. Praying for speedy recovery of the injured. I have directed the district administration, Police, SDRF and Health Department to provide every possible assistance to those affected".

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah extended heartfelt condolence and sympathies to the bereaved families. He prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the accident.

CM Abdullah also announced immediate relief from the CM Relief Fund: Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased, Rs 1 lakh to those seriously injured, and Rs 25,000 to those with minor injuries.

Minister Satish Sharma, officials visit GMC Udhampur

Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Youth Services & Sports, and Information Technology, Satish Sharma, visited GMC Udhampur to review medical facilities being provided to the victims. He was accompanied by MLA Ramnagar R.S. Pathania, MLA Gulabgarh Khursheed Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Minga Sherpa, and senior health officials.

Sharma conducted a detailed inspection of emergency and trauma sections, interacted with patients and attendants, and reviewed the availability of doctors, paramedical staff, critical care infrastructure, and diagnostic facilities. "Timely medical intervention during the 'golden hour' is crucial," the minister said. He directed hospital authorities to strengthen emergency response mechanisms.

The minister instructed round-the-clock availability of specialist doctors, well-equipped ambulances, blood bank services, and life-saving drugs. He called for enhanced coordination among health, transport, and police departments and assured that GMC Udhampur would be further strengthened with improved infrastructure, manpower, and advanced medical facilities.

Chief Secretary assures best possible medical care

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo visited GMC Udhampur to enquire about the condition of individuals injured in the accident. He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Minga Sherpa, Transport Commissioner Vishesh Paul Mahajan, Additional Deputy Commissioner Prem Singh, and other senior officials of the district administration.

During his visit, the Chief Secretary interacted with the injured and reviewed the medical care being provided. He directed the hospital administration and medical staff to ensure that all victims receive the highest standard of treatment and adequate support facilities without any delay.

Describing the incident as deeply unfortunate and distressing, the CS expressed profound concern over the loss and suffering caused by the accident. “The government is closely monitoring the situation and extending all possible assistance to the affected individuals and their families,” he said.

The Chief Secretary underscored the need for strict enforcement of traffic regulations to prevent such incidents in the future. He called for stringent action against overloading and stressed the necessity of ensuring the fitness and roadworthiness of vehicles to safeguard human lives.