Udhampur: In a powerful display of the Indian Army’s unwavering commitment to civilian safety, a transit team from the 841 Field Workshop, alongside personnel from the 87 Mountain Brigade and the 4/3 Gorkha Rifles, spearheaded a life-saving rescue mission following a catastrophic bus accident near Kaghote in the Ramnagar area of Udhampur on Monday.
The disaster unfolded when a passenger bus en route from Ramnagar to Udhampur veered off a treacherous curve, plummeting approximately 100 feet from an upper road tier onto a lower section, and hitting a passenger auto-rickshaw in its descent. The impact was devastating, resulting in at least 21 fatalities and leaving 51 others injured.
Amid the chaos and carnage at the crash site, the Indian Army once again proved why it is the backbone of the nation during civil crises. The rescue efforts were spearheaded by a small but highly efficient recovery team from the 841 Field Workshop, accompanied by personnel from the 87 Mountain Brigade and the 4/3 Gorkha Rifles.
The Army team was in routine transit, traveling from Udhampur toward Ramnagar, when they encountered the immediate aftermath of the plunge. Without a second’s hesitation, the team, led by Naib Subedar Bom Bahadur Thapa, a Junior Commissioned Officer of the 87 Mountain Brigade, pivoted from their scheduled mission to an emergency life-saving operation. Their presence was providential; the team was equipped with a unit-bound heavy-duty recovery crane, which became the most critical tool in the initial “golden hour” of the rescue.
While local bystanders and police were initially hindered by the sheer weight of the mangled bus, the Indian Army’s technical expertise came to the fore. Under the disciplined leadership of the Naib Subedar, the soldiers repurposed their recovery crane to lift the crushed sections of the bus. This allowed rescuers to reach survivors who were pinned under the chassis—victims who likely would have succumbed to their injuries had they waited for civilian heavy machinery to arrive from the city.
The Army’s ethos of “Service Before Self” was on full display. Soldiers crawled into the precarious wreckage, ignoring the risk of the bus shifting further down the slope, to provide immediate first aid and stabilize the wounded. Their swift intervention is credited by local authorities with preventing a significantly higher death toll.
The rescue operation was a masterclass in inter-agency coordination. As the Army secured the site and extricated the victims, the local police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and civil administration arrived to streamline the evacuation. Senior officials, including DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range Shiv Kumar, SSP Amritpal Singh, and ADC Prem Singh, were on-site to manage the logistics of the relief effort.
The injured were rapidly shifted to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Ramnagar and the Government Medical College (GMC) Udhampur. For those in critical condition, the administration put standby provisions in place to airlift victims via Indian Air Force/Army choppers to specialized facilities in Jammu.
The tragedy has drawn the immediate attention of the highest levels of the Union Territory’s leadership. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo visited the associated hospital at GMC Udhampur to personally monitor the medical care being provided.
“This is a deeply unfortunate mishap. Our priority is ensuring that every survivor receives the best possible medical intervention. Out of the 51 injured, 44 are being treated here at GMC Udhampur, six at SDH Ramnagar, and two of the most critical patients have been moved to GMC Jammu,” the Chief Secretary stated. He added that, to support the affected families, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the PMNRF, while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sanctioned additional relief of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin and guaranteed that the government would bear all medical expenses for the survivors.
Jammu and Kashmir Minister Satish Sharma also visited the survivors, conveying the government’s profound condolences. He confirmed that a high-level inquiry has been initiated to investigate the root causes of the accident. Preliminary reports suggest severe overloading and potential driver negligence as primary factors. Minister Sharma emphasized that forensic videography of the crash site has been conducted to ensure no evidence is lost. The government has vowed to “act tough” and set a legal precedent to ensure that transport operators adhere to safety norms.
This incident highlights the unique and indispensable role the Indian Army plays in Jammu and Kashmir. Beyond their primary duty of national security and counter-terrorism, the soldiers of the 87 Mountain Brigade and the Gorkha Rifles remain first responders for the civilian population in the face of natural disasters and road accidents.
In the challenging terrain of the Himalayas, where narrow roads and steep cliffs make travel inherently risky, the Army’s constant presence provides a safety net for the local community. The prompt action of the Naib Subedar and his recovery team in Ramnagar is a testament to the unsung heroism that occurs daily in these regions.
