A heart-stopping moment on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway today, September 26, 2025, when a bus veered off the road at Dalwas Track near Tikri Mand in Udhampur district, tumbling down a slope and leaving passengers in panic. The vehicle, registration JK13B9597, was heading from Jammu to Srinagar with over 30 onboard, including families and workers, when it lost control on a sharp curve. Miraculously, the driver and helper escaped with minor injuries, and no passenger deaths were reported, but several suffered bruises and shock. The accident, captured in a video going viral on social media, shows the bus sliding sideways, kicking up dust before coming to a halt in a ditch. Eyewitnesses rushed to help, pulling people out as locals called for ambulances.
The crash happened around 11 AM on the Tikri Mand stretch, a notorious spot for accidents due to narrow lanes and poor signage. The bus, operated by a private company, was speeding to make up for delays from earlier traffic jams near Ramban. The driver, in a statement to police, blamed a sudden brake failure and a pothole that sent the vehicle skidding. “The road’s full of holes from the rains, and no warning boards – it was a miracle no one died,” he said from the hospital. Passengers described the terror: “We thought it was the end – the bus flipped, and screams filled the air,” recounted one woman from Srinagar, treated for a sprained ankle at Udhampur District Hospital.
This isn’t an isolated incident – the Jammu-Srinagar highway, vital for 1.2 million daily commuters, has seen over 50 major accidents this year, per Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police data, with poor maintenance and flood damage as culprits. The August rains washed out sections near Tikri, leaving deep craters that vehicles dodge at high speeds. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) promised repairs by October, but locals say work is slow, with only 20% of the Rs 200 crore allocated used. A recent NHAI notice mentioned lane closures for maintenance, but no signboards were placed, a fatal oversight as per the Motor Vehicles Act. “If there was a sign, the driver could have slowed down,” said an eyewitness from a nearby tea stall.
The accident has reignited calls for better road safety. The Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police, led by SSP Traffic Yougal Manhas, launched an inquiry, with preliminary findings pointing to mechanical failure and speeding. Manhas said, “We’ll check the bus’s fitness certificate and hold the company accountable.” The private operator faces a Rs 50,000 fine and possible suspension if negligence is proven. Passengers, many from rural Jammu, are seeking compensation for medical bills, with the company offering Rs 10,000 each – too little for some with fractures.
For Jammu’s highway users, this is a wake-up call. The route, connecting the plains to the Valley, carries essential goods and tourists, but blackspots like Dalwas Track claim lives yearly. Rural areas like Udhampur suffer most, with farmers losing produce in crashes. The floods left 12,000 km of roads damaged, and NHAI’s Rs 500 crore repair plan is behind schedule. Social media’s abuzz with #JammuHighwaySafety, showing the crash video and demands for speed cameras and barriers.
The government’s response? Transport Minister Sat Sharma announced a safety audit for the highway, promising signboards and rumble strips by Diwali. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Road safety is life safety – we’re acting fast.” But commuters want more – regular bus checks, driver training, and faster repairs. The accident, while no fatalities, injured 12, with three in serious condition at GMC Jammu. Families are rallying for justice, with a petition to the High Court for compensation.