Bus Accident in Jammu and Kashmir Doda, 36 Killed

At least 36 people died after a bus rolled down a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda District, Kashmir police said on Wednesday. The bus rolled down a gorge in the Assar area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda District. Prime Minister offered condolences to the families of the victims.

36 killed and 29 got injured as bus falls into gorge!

The bus was carrying 55 passengers. The bus was on its way from Kishtwar to Jammu. It lost control and rolled down the slope near Trungal in the Assar area on the highway. the bus skidded off the road near Trungal-Assar on the Batote-Kishtwar national highway. It happened after the driver lost control of the wheel and fell into a 300-foot gorge. The accident triggered a massive rescue operation, involving the local administration, the police, and the army.

“A passenger bus (JK02CN-6555) that left Kishtwar at around 0800 hrs skidded off the road and rolled down into a 300-foot-deep gorge. It Happened near Trungal-Assar of Doda on the Batote-Kishtwar highway, when the driver of the bus failed to negotiate a sharp cure. Twenty-one deceased including six females have been identified. The process of identification of the dead is on. The 18 injured include four minors.” police said.

The Prime Minister and The President showed condolences!

Unfortunately, 36 persons have died and 19 are injured, out of whom six injured are serious,” Indian federal minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said. Authorities were preparing to airlift the injured victims to a hospital in Jammu city. Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also voiced their grief over the deadly 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 said in a post on the social media platform X.

The bus accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir is distressing. My condolences to the families who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Rs.…

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 15, 2023

The Indian government also announced that the families of those killed in the crash would receive compensation of 200,000 Indian rupees (about $2,400).  Families of the injured victims would get 50,000 rupees (about $600). 

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also took to X and wrote, “Extremely pained by the loss of lives in a tragic bus accident in Assar, Doda. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families & wish for a speedy recovery of those injured in the accident. Directed Div Com & Dist Admin to provide all necessary assistance to affected persons.”