A PASSENGER bus rolled down a hillside in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Monday, leaving 21 people dead and 29 others injured, officials said. 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. The bus was carrying 50 passengers, mostly those heading to their daily jobs, 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.

 

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the accident. He 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. J&K 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. Officials said two more critically injured persons succumbed to their injuries at Udhampur District Hospital during treatment, raising the death toll to 21. Sharma said the local residents extended significant help during the rescue. 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.