At least four people, including an Army trooper on leave, died and over 40 others were injured on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, when a passenger bus rolled down into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. The tragic incident occurred around 9:20 AM when the bus, traveling from Ghani to Mendhar, lost control and skidded off the road.
According to local officials, the bus driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve, leading to the vehicle plunging into the gorge. Local residents quickly mobilized to launch a rescue operation, which was later supported by police, Army, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. The injured were evacuated to a nearby health facility in Mendhar, where 11 critically injured individuals were referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H) in Rajouri.
The deceased were identified as 45-year-old Mohd Majeed, a soldier serving in the Assam Rifles who had returned home on leave, 60-year-old Noor Hussain, and 55-year-old Shakeela Begum. Another victim, 50-year-old Mohd Haneef, was also reported dead, though his identity was confirmed later. Poonch Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Pervaiz Ahmed Khan stated that two of the deceased died at the scene, while the others succumbed to injuries en route to the hospital.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic loss of life. “Pained by the loss of lives due to the tragic road accident in Poonch. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for a speedy recovery of those injured,” Sinha said in a statement.
Javed Ahmad Rana, the J&K Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, also expressed his condolences and pledged support for the affected families. “Deeply saddened… I have spoken to the divisional commissioner, Jammu, and instructed him to ensure immediate assistance, including airlifting critically injured to GMC Jammu,” Rana posted on social media platform X.
During his visit to GMC Rajouri, Rana interacted with the patients and assured them of all possible support for their treatment and recovery. He directed the Medical Superintendent and hospital staff to provide the best possible care and extend every necessary assistance.
Rana emphasized the urgent need for improved road safety measures in the Pir Panjal region, highlighting that the accident underscores the necessity for better infrastructure, stricter regulations, and public awareness campaigns. He stated, “This (accident) has reminded us of better road safety measures in Pir Panjal region, including improved infrastructure, stricter regulations and public awareness.”
Road crashes in the region have been alarmingly frequent, prompting public interest litigations (PILs) in the J&K High Court. On April 24, 2025, the court requested an amicus curiae to personally visit some accident-prone spots and submit a comprehensive report. This request followed a report submitted in December 2023 by a four-member committee of experts who had investigated the rising number of traffic accidents.
In a related incident, just hours after the Poonch accident, two soldiers were killed and two others injured when their Army vehicle plunged into a gorge in Kupwara's Teetwal area near the Line of Control. The injured soldiers were airlifted to the Army’s base hospital in Srinagar for treatment. An investigation is currently underway to ascertain the causes of both accidents.
This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing issues surrounding road safety in the region, where hilly terrain and inadequate infrastructure often contribute to accidents. As authorities respond to these recent tragedies, many are calling for immediate action to prevent further loss of life.
