Bus Crash in Kashmir Kills 21, Injures 45

A passenger bus plunged off a winding Himalayan highway in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Monday, killing at least 21 people and injuring around 45 others in one of the region's deadliest road accidents this year.

The 42-seat bus, overcrowded with more than 60 passengers traveling from Ramnagar town to Udhampur city, lost control at a sharp curve in the mountainous terrain, officials reported. It collided with an autorickshaw before veering off the road and tumbling approximately 100 feet down a steep, rocky slope onto a lower highway. The impact scattered debris across the rugged landscape, and the three-wheeler's occupants also sustained injuries.

Civil administrator Prem Singh described the sequence of events, noting that the crash occurred amid challenging conditions typical of the area's narrow, twisting roads. Emergency responders, including local residents and authorities, arrived quickly to the remote site and initiated a rescue operation. Nineteen passengers perished at the scene, while two more succumbed to their injuries at a nearby hospital following evacuation. The surviving victims, including several in critical condition, received treatment at various health...