Udhampur (J-K)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday blamed negligence for the fatal road accident in Udhampur, saying preliminary findings point to lapses on the part of the bus operator, and assured that strict action will be taken once the inquiry report is submitted.

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

Accompanied by Health Minister Sakeena Itoo and Transport Minister Satish Sharma, Abdullah visited Government Medical College (GMC) hospital Udhampur, where he met those injured in the road accident.

He interacted with their families, and directed officials to ensure the best possible medical care with continuous monitoring.

The chief minister also assured full support to the affected families and emphasized the need for strict measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Talking to reporters, the chief minister said it is deeply unfortunate that many precious lives were lost but what makes it even more tragic is that the accident occurred due to the “negligence of the bus owner”.

“The person who was given control of the bus was not the regular driver; the actual driver was on leave. The owner handed over the steering to someone who had been driving a truck until recently. We cannot say that the government does not take action against such people. When we reviewed the record of this bus, it was found that more than 15 challans (fines) had already been issued against it,” the chief minister said.

He said the Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur Minga Sherpa has ordered an inquiry, and one of the senior officers is investigating the incident.

“Let the investigation be completed; once the officer’s report comes, whatever recommendations are made in that report will be implemented,” the chief minister said.

Dismissing poor road conditions as a factor, he emphasised that reckless driving habits like overspeeding, overloading, and wrong-side driving remain a persistent challenge.

“The real challenge is that while roads can be improved, driver behaviour cannot be fixed overnight. Instances of wrong-side driving, overspeeding and overloading continue to put lives at risk,” he said.

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While reaffirming the government’s commitment to accountability, Abdullah also stressed the need for responsibility among transport operators.

He acknowledged the delicate balance authorities must maintain between enforcement and public demand for transport services.