Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 20 

India’s top leaders expressed condolences on Monday over a deadly bus crash in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 21 people and injured dozens, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing financial assistance for victims’ families.

President Droupadi Murmu said she was “deeply saddened” by the loss of lives in the accident in Udhampur district and extended her condolences to the bereaved families, while wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also conveyed his condolences, describing the incident as tragic and expressing sympathy with the families of the victims.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was pained by the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased victim from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. 

The injured would receive Rs 50,000, he said.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” PM Modi said in a statement.

Home Minister Amit Shah described the accident as “extremely tragic” and said local authorities were engaged in relief and rescue operations.

“I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,” Shah said, adding that he hoped for the quick recovery of the injured.

The accident occurred earlier in the day near Kaghote in Udhampur district when an overcrowded passenger bus veered off a mountain road and plunged down a steep slope, officials said.