Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed over 7,000 bus accidents in the past two decades, with accident numbers fluctuating significantly over the years, according to data from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
In 2004, the region recorded 1,494 bus accidents, which dropped to 612 in 2008 but later surged to 1,590 in 2014 and 1,583 in 2015. The figures declined again in 2017 to 399 but continued to fluctuate, with 357 cases reported in 2022.
Ladakh’s bus accident data was separately recorded from 2021 onwards, with no incidents that year. However, in 2022, 36 bus accidents were reported.
Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, while addressing the issue, highlighted several measures taken by the government to enhance road safety. These include road safety audits, rectification of accident-prone black spots, and stricter vehicle safety norms. The National Road Safety Strategy has also been extended to Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to curb road accidents and fatalities.
Authorities have intensified traffic law enforcement, driver awareness programs, and emergency response systems to tackle the issue. Additionally, infrastructure improvements such as crash barriers, better road engineering, and advanced safety technologies in public transport vehicles are being promoted to enhance road safety.
