Onlykashmir.in News Desk
At least 21 people were killed and 51 others injured when a passenger bus fell into a deep gorge near Kagort village in Ramnagar area of Udhampur district.
According to officials, the bus (number JK14D-2121) was going from Ramnagar to Udhampur when the driver lost control on a sharp bend and fell about 60 to 70 feet down. Immediately after the accident, locals, army, police and rescue teams started rescue operations and the injured were shifted to the hospital.
DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range Shiv Kumar Sharma said that the bus also hit an auto-rickshaw on the road below, injuring its passengers. A case has been registered and an investigation has been started in connection with the incident.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, among others, have expressed deep grief over the accident and condoled with the families of the victims.
The Prime Minister announced a compensation of Rs 200,000 for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, while the Chief Minister has also announced financial assistance from the Relief Fund. According to officials, arrangements are also being made to airlift the seriously injured for better treatment.
