Examiner Bureau | Udhampur:
At least 15 people were killed and several others injured after a passenger bus plunged into a deep gorge in Udhampur on Saturday, officials said.
The accident occurred along a hilly stretch of road when the bus reportedly lost control and veered off the carriageway before falling into the gorge. Rescue teams rushed to the site and launched a large-scale operation to evacuate the injured and recover bodies.
Officials said the injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment, while the death toll may rise as rescue efforts continue. Police have initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as sudden and devastating. “It all happened within seconds. The bus went out of control and rolled down into the gorge,” a local resident said.
Teams from the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local volunteers are engaged in the rescue operation, which is being carried out under challenging conditions due to the difficult terrain. Authorities are also working to clear the site and restore normal traffic movement on the route.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and announced ex-gratia relief for the families of the deceased and the injured.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also conveyed their condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
