20 dead, 36 injured as passenger bus rolls into gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district

The accident took place near Kanote village when the bus, travelling from Ramnagar to Udhampur, lost control and plunged into a gorge.

Updated on: Apr 20, 2026, 13:17:07 IST

Reported by Ravi Krishnan Khajuria | Edited by Shivya Kanojia

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At least 20 people were killed and 36 were injured after a passenger bus rolled down into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Monday.

Udhampur Bus Accident Kills At Least 15, Rescue Operation Underway In J&K | HT India

The accident took place near Kanote village when the bus, travelling from Ramnagar to Udhampur, lost control and plunged into a gorge. Rescue operations were launched immediately by local authorities.

The bus was taking a sharp curve on a hilly road when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to roll down a steep, rocky slope of around 100 feet before landing on a lower road.

Also read | Four killed, 44 injured as bus plunges into gorge in J&K’s Poonch

DIG Udhampur-Reasi range Shiv Kumar Sharma said the driver lost control while taking a sharp curve, and the bus subsequently hit an auto-rickshaw on a lower road, injuring those inside.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he had spoken to Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa soon 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.

J&K LG Manoj Sinha said, "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."

Injured are being brought to GMC Udhampur, while efforts are underway to retrieve the bodies of those killed in the accident, Dr Sanjeev Gupta, medical superintendent of Government Medical College (GMC) and Associated Hospitals, Udhampur, said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

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