Overcrowded Bus Plunges into Gorge in Kashmir; 21 Dead and Dozens Injured
The tragic accident occurred at approximately 8:30 AM on Monday near Kanote village, with local authorities attributing the disaster to the vehicle carrying passengers far beyond its capacity.
Local Civil Administrator Prem Singh informed the media that the bus, which had a seating capacity of 42, was carrying more than 60 passengers at the time of the crash. The vehicle was en route from Ramnagar town to Udhampur.
Witnesses and officials stated that while navigating a treacherous mountain bend, the bus collided with an auto-rickshaw. The impact caused the driver to lose control, sending the bus tumbling nearly 100 feet down a steep, rocky slope. Rescue teams arrived swiftly at the scene and recovered 19 bodies, while two more victims succumbed to their injuries on the way to the hospital.
The accident left at least 45 others injured, several of whom remain in critical condition. The injured have been admitted to the Ramnagar Sub-District Hospital and other nearby medical facilities. Doctors noted that the high death toll was primarily due to severe head trauma and internal bleeding sustained during the fall.
International media outlets have highlighted that while developed international nations maintain strict regulations on road safety and passenger limits, such negligence in the mountainous regions of South Asia often results in fatal consequences. This incident has once again brought the issue of public transport safety and the lack of stringent enforcement in high-risk terrains to the forefront of regional discussion.
