At least 21 people have been killed as a heavily overcrowded passenger bus skidded off the road and rolled down a steep, rocky slope into a gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The incident occurred at around 8.30am (03:00GMT) on Monday near Kanote village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, according to the Kashmir News Service (KNS).

Overcrowded Bus Hits Autorickshaw and Tumbles into Gorge

The accident involved a 42-seater bus that was carrying more than 60 passengers when it hit an autorickshaw at a sharp curve in the mountainous region. The bus then veered off the road and fell about 30 meters (100 feet) into the gorge below, according to Civil administrator Prem Singh, as cited by The Associated Press news agency.

Singh said that 19 passengers died on the spot, while two others died in a hospital after being evacuated; Around 45 others were left injured, some in critical condition, and are being treated in various health centres. Most of the victims died due to severe head trauma and internal bleeding, according to a health official at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Ramnagar, as reported by KNS.

Prime Minister Offers Condolences and Financial Relief

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the accident on social media and announced monetary relief for the victims’ families — “I extend my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said on X.

The crash has once again highlighted the dangers of road travel in the region; India has some of the highest road death rates in the world, with hundreds of thousands of people killed and injured annually. Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads, and ageing vehicles.

Challenging Terrain and Overcrowding Contribute to Tragedy

The accident occurred in a remote and mountainous part of Jammu and Kashmir, where narrow roads and steep slopes make driving conditions particularly dangerous — the bus was reportedly overcrowded, carrying more than double its capacity, which may have contributed to the severity of the crash.

Local officials confirmed that the bus was traveling from the town of Ramnagar to the city of Udhampur when the accident happened; the collision with the autorickshaw at a sharp curve likely caused the bus to lose control and plunge into the gorge.

Emergency services worked quickly to evacuate the injured and transport them to nearby hospitals, though However, the remote location of the crash site posed significant challenges for rescue teams. Many of the injured were in critical condition upon arrival at the hospitals, according to local health officials.

The incident has sparked discussions about the need for improved road infrastructure and stricter enforcement of passenger limits on public transport in the region — While authorities have taken steps to enhance road safety in recent years, incidents like this continue to highlight the risks faced by commuters in Kashmir.

Modi’s announcement of financial relief for the victims’ families comes as part of a broader effort to support those affected by such tragedies — However, many families in the region rely on daily wages and may struggle to cope with the loss of income following such a disaster.

Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of the accident, though preliminary reports suggest that the overcrowded bus and the collision with the autorickshaw were major contributing factors. An investigation is reportedly underway to determine if any legal action will be taken against the bus operator or the driver.

The crash has once again drawn attention to the high number of road accidents in India, which claim the lives of more than 200,000 people each year. Many of these incidents are attributed to poor road conditions, reckless driving, and the use of outdated vehicles.