Udhampur/Ramnagar :- A painful tragedy struck Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Wednesday morning when a passenger bus veered off a winding mountain road and plunged into a deep gorge near Gala-Pachound, in the Ramnagar area. The devastating plunge claimed two lives—including that of a four-year-old girl—and left 17 other passengers injured, casting a deep blanket of grief over local communities.
The incident occurred as the bus, registered under JK02AL-3477, was making its journey from Pachound toward Ramnagar. While navigating the treacherous terrain near Gala, the driver suddenly lost control of the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to skid off the ledge and tumble down the steep hillside. The terrifying crash sent shockwaves through the quiet township, prompting nearby villagers to rush to the edge of the gorge to pull terrified survivors from the wreckage.
Initial reports from the scene painted a chaotic picture, initially estimating 9 to 10 injuries with no confirmed deaths. However, as emergency services mobilized, the gravity of the disaster quickly became clear. Official medical records from the Sub-District Hospital in Ramnagar ultimately confirmed 19 total injured brought in from the site, with two declared dead on arrival.
The two who lost their lives have been identified as four-year-old Takshika, daughter of Rakesh Kumar from Chhatradi village, and 24-year-old Sunita Devi, wife of Kuldeep Kumar from Pachound. The news of little Takshika’s death has particularly shaken the region, leaving community members in profound heartbreak.
Among the 17 surviving victims are numerous young children and teenagers. Medical rosters confirm the injured passengers as Shiv Dev Singh (24), Savita Devi (31), Hardik (7), Vibhan (8), Rohit Kumar (15), Navneet Sajan (15), Ratan Chand (50), Ankit Kumar (2), Ravi Kumar (47), Neelma Devi (50), Kirav Bansal (8), Kavyansh (8), Aarti (18), Arshanya (9), Rajan Dogra (18), Sulekha Devi (33), and Ankish Bharti (17). While several victims received emergency treatment directly at the Ramnagar facility, doctors referred those with more severe injuries to the Government Medical College (GMC) in Udhampur for specialized trauma care.
The disaster spurred immediate action across multiple levels of government. Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Ananth Dwivedi swiftly dispatched administrative teams, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, search-and-rescue personnel, and medical fleets to manage the site. Mountainous terrain made extraction efforts remarkably challenging, requiring local volunteers and official responders to work side by side to haul victims out of the ravine.
The crash also drew urgent attention from senior leadership. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh contacted Deputy Commissioner Dwivedi by phone to assess rescue coordination and ensure resources were mobilized without delay. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha publicly expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life, extending heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and issuing strict instructions to district authorities to ensure the highest quality medical treatment for every survivor.
As doctors work around the clock to stabilize the injured, the local atmosphere remains heavy with mourning. Authorities are now shifting focus toward investigating the technical and circumstantial details behind the incident to determine precisely what caused the driver to lose control on the high-altitude route.
