In a grievous turn of events on Wednesday, a passenger bus careened off a treacherous mountainous road, hurtling into a deep gorge in the remote Doda area, located approximately 200 kilometers southeast of Srinagar, the capital of the region.
Authorities revealed that the catastrophic accident, resulting in the loss of 30 lives, was precipitated by the driver’s negligence in colliding with the road’s crash barrier, causing the bus to plummet some 250 meters down the mountainside. Senior police officer Sunil Gupta conveyed, “The bus tumbled down the mountain,” emphasizing the severity of the incident. Additionally, more than 25 individuals sustained injuries, with concerns that the death toll might escalate given the severity of some injuries.
A poignant video clip from the accident site depicted a harrowing scene, with rescuers diligently working to aid the injured amidst several lifeless bodies.
Expressing his sorrow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi characterized the incident as “distressing” and extended his condolences to the grieving families. Modi also pledged government compensation, offering over $2,400 to the next of kin of those deceased and $600 to the injured.
Home Minister Amit Shah, posting on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, expressed being “deeply anguished” by the tragic loss of lives. He assured that local authorities were actively engaged in rescue operations at the accident site.
Tragically, such accidents are all too common on India’s extensive network of roads, often marred by inadequate maintenance. Despite possessing only one percent of the world’s vehicles, India accounts for 11 percent of the global road death toll, as highlighted in a 2021 World Bank report. The report underscored the staggering toll of 150,000 car crash fatalities annually in India, equating to one life lost every four minutes. The economic ramifications of road accidents in India are colossal, estimated at around $75 billion per year, encompassing medical expenses and income loss that often plunge survivors into poverty.
This somber incident echoes previous instances, such as the May bus tragedy where 21 lives were lost when a bus veered off a bridge, reportedly due to the driver falling asleep at the wheel. In July, another calamity unfolded in western India, claiming 25 lives and injuring eight when a bus crashed and ignited on an expressway.
