Udhampur

Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said negligence appears to be the main cause behind the deadly bus accident in Udhampur and assured strict action once the inquiry report is submitted.

At least 21 people were killed and 51 injured when an overcrowded passenger bus plunged nearly 100 metres down a hillside in the Ramnagar area on April 20.

Accompanied by Sakeena Itoo and Satish Sharma, Abdullah visited Government Medical College Hospital to meet those injured in the crash. He also interacted with their families and directed officials to ensure the best possible treatment and constant monitoring.

Speaking to reporters, the chief minister said the tragedy became even more painful because preliminary findings pointed to lapses by the bus operator. He alleged that the regular driver was on leave and the owner handed control of the vehicle to another person who had recently been driving a truck.

Abdullah added that authorities had previously issued more than 15 challans against the bus, indicating repeated violations.

He said Minga Sherpa has ordered an inquiry and a senior officer is investigating the matter. Any recommendations made in the final report will be implemented, he said.

Rejecting poor road conditions as the main cause, Abdullah said reckless driving habits such as overspeeding, overloading and driving on the wrong side continue to endanger lives.

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He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accountability while stressing that transport operators must also act responsibly.