At least seven people were killed and several others injured after a passenger bus veered off a hilly road and rolled down a slope in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Monday morning, officials said.

The accident occurred around 10 a.m. near Kagort village in the Ramnagar area, where the bus was attempting to navigate a sharp blind curve along a narrow mountain road. Preliminary reports indicate that the driver may have lost control of the vehicle, causing it to plunge into a deep gorge. The impact left multiple passengers trapped inside the mangled vehicle.

Emergency services, including police, local volunteers, and disaster response teams, rushed to the site soon after the incident. A large-scale rescue operation was launched, with responders using ropes and improvised equipment to reach the wreckage down the steep hillside. Several injured passengers were extricated and transported to nearby medical facilities, where doctors said some remain in critical condition.

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Authorities confirmed that the bus was traveling from a remote village to Udhampur town at the time of the crash. The exact number of passengers on board has not yet been officially disclosed, and efforts are ongoing to verify the identities of the victims. Officials said the death toll could rise as some of the injured are in serious condition.

Senior district officials have reached the site to oversee rescue and relief operations. The local administration has assured that all necessary medical assistance is being provided, while arrangements are also being made to support the families of those affected. Traffic in the area was temporarily disrupted as rescue teams continued their work.

Accidents of this nature are not uncommon in the mountainous terrain of Jammu and Kashmir, where roads are often narrow and prone to sharp turns with limited visibility. Investigators are examining possible causes, including mechanical failure, overloading, or driver error. Authorities have reiterated the need for stricter safety measures and cautious driving on such high-risk routes.

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