A severe bus accident occurred on Monday morning around 8:30 am (03:00 GMT) in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, near Kanote village, according to the Kashmir News Service (KNS). The 42-seater bus was carrying over 60 passengers from the town of Ramnagar to the city of Udhampur when it skidded off the road in the mountainous region.

Civil administrator Prem Singh reported that the bus hit an autorickshaw at a sharp curve, veered off the road, and rolled down a steep, rocky slope into a gorge about 30 meters (100 feet) deep. 19 passengers died on the spot, while two others succumbed to injuries in a hospital after evacuation, as per The Associated Press. Approximately 45 others were injured, some critically, and are receiving treatment at various health centers.

A health official at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Ramnagar, cited by KNS, stated that most victims died due to severe head trauma and internal bleeding. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the accident on social media and announced monetary relief for the victims' families, saying, "I extend my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."

India has some of the highest road death rates globally, with hundreds of thousands killed and injured annually. Most crashes are attributed to reckless driving, poorly maintained roads, and ageing vehicles, underscoring a persistent safety crisis in the region. This incident adds to the grim statistics, raising concerns about infrastructure and regulatory failures in Indian-administered areas.

Source: www.aljazeera.com