A deadly road accident in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Monday left at least 12 people dead and more than 20 injured after a passenger bus rolled into a gorge near Kanote village.
Bus loses control near Kanote
The bus was travelling from Ramnagar to Udhampur when it reportedly lost control and veered off the road, plunging into a deep gorge. The incident triggered immediate rescue efforts by local authorities, with teams rushing to the spot to assist victims.
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According to officials, the accident occurred suddenly, leaving passengers with little time to react.
Rescue operations underway
Emergency teams launched rescue operations soon after the crash. The injured were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to district officials shortly after the incident.
"Just now spoke to DC Udhampur, Minga Sherpa, after learning about a tragic road accident, less than an hour ago, at village Kanote, involving a public transport bus on its way from Ramnagar to Udhampur. The rescue operation has been immediately undertaken. Heavy casualties are expected.
All possible assistance is being provided. The injured will be shifted for medical aid. Arrangements being made to airlift the seriously injured. I am in constant touch with the local administration as well as our local workers team led by Rajinder Sharma," he said in a post on X.
Authorities respond
Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the incident and assured support for those affected.
"Tragic road accident in Udhampur is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to bereaved families. May God grant them strength. Praying for speedy recovery of injured. I have directed district admin, Police, SDRF & Health Dept to provide every possible assistance to those affected," said Sinha.
Medical response and recovery efforts
The injured are being taken to Government Medical College Udhampur for treatment. Hospital authorities said efforts are ongoing to manage the influx of patients.
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Dr Sanjeev Gupta, medical superintendent of the hospital, confirmed that the injured are receiving care, while teams continue efforts to retrieve the bodies of those who lost their lives.
Rescue and recovery operations were still underway as officials worked to account for all passengers involved in the crash.
