On November 15, 2023, a severe bus accident in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir, India, led to a devastating outcome. According to reports, 39 people lost their lives and 17 others sustained injuries as a passenger bus veered off a Himalayan highway into a deep gorge.
The incident took place around 124 miles southeast of Srinagar, in the challenging terrain of Kashmir. The bus, designed to hold 42 passengers, was on its route from Kishtwar town to Jammu city. It lost control on the Batote-Kishtwar national highway and plunged about 600 feet below into the gorge.
Initial investigations suggest potential driver negligence, including a collision with a crash barrier, contributing to the disaster. Following the accident, local residents and emergency responders initiated rescue operations. Injured passengers were promptly taken to nearby hospitals, with critically injured individuals being prepared for airlift to Jammu city for advanced medical care.
Overcrowding, a recurrent issue in transportation accidents, appears to have played a role, as the bus was reportedly carrying over 50 passengers. Police are investigating the precise causes of the accident, focusing on factors like overcrowding and speeding.
This tragedy adds to a series of recent bus accidents in India, highlighting ongoing challenges in road safety and vehicle maintenance. Similar incidents in Kerala and on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway on November 11 resulted in additional deaths and injuries.
The recent spate of accidents is expected to prompt Indian government and regional authorities to review and strengthen safety measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.