Indian Army Rescues Survivors Following Fatal Bus Accident in Ramnagar Udhampur

RAMNAGAR, 20 April 2026: The Indian Army spearheaded a rapid search and rescue operation on Sunday morning following a devastating transit accident near Ramnagar in the Udhampur district.

At approximately 9:40 AM, a private bus traveling toward Udhampur lost control near Village Kaghote, skidding off the road and plunging 70 feet into a deep gorge. The violent impact left dozens of passengers trapped within the wreckage, necessitating an immediate and high-stakes extraction effort in difficult terrain.

Troops from a Battalion of Gorkha Rifles, who happened to be traveling to Samnabanj for scheduled training, were the first responders on the scene. The soldiers immediately pivoted from their mission to launch emergency evacuations, pulling survivors from the mangled bus.

To streamline the relief efforts, a Commanding Officer from a Battalion of the DOGRA Regiment established an Ad-Hoc Incident Control Centre at the crash site. In total, 10 specialized teams from both the DOGRA and Gorkha units were mobilized to secure the area and provide life-saving assistance.

Beyond the physical extraction, Army personnel provided critical first aid to the wounded while coordinating with the Indian Air Force to ensure assets were on standby for the airlift of critically injured civilians.

Demonstrating a holistic approach to the crisis, the troops also managed the distribution of food and water to survivors and civilian responders throughout the morning.

While the tragedy resulted in 21 confirmed fatalities and 29 injuries, the Army’s swift intervention prevented further loss of life before handing over the scene to civil administration and emergency services for continued medical care and investigation.