Bus Accident in Doda District, Jammu and Kashmir
New Delhi — A tragic accident occurred on Wednesday in the mountainous Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir state, resulting in the death of at least 36 people and leaving 19 injured. The incident took place on the Batote-Kishtwar national highway, approximately 123 miles southeast of Srinagar, the main city of the region.
A passenger bus carrying 55 individuals was en route from Kishtwar town to southern Jammu city when it skidded off the road and plummeted more than 600 feet into a gorge.
"Unfortunately, 36 persons have died and 19 are injured, out of whom six injured are serious," stated Indian federal minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.
Efforts are underway to airlift the injured victims to a hospital in Jammu city.
Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their sorrow over the tragic road accident.
"I am deeply saddened by the news of the unfortunate death of several passengers in a bus accident in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. I express my condolences to the bereaved family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," President Murmu shared on the social media platform X.
Bus Accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir
The recent bus accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir has caused distress and sorrow. Prime Minister Modi expressed his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and wished a speedy recovery for the injured victims.
In response to the tragedy, the government has announced that the families of the deceased will receive compensation of 200,000 Indian rupees (approximately $2,400). Additionally, the families of the injured victims will be provided with 50,000 rupees (about $600) as financial support.
It is unfortunate that road accidents are common in India's mountainous Himalayan region. In 2019, a similar bus crash in the neighboring district of Kishtwar resulted in the loss of 33 lives. The same year, 44 people died when a bus lost control on a hilly road in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh and fell down a hill.
