Doda shooting stones kill 2, injure several as bus hit on J&K highway
Synopsis
Two people are dead after shooting stones struck a passenger bus at Raggi Nallah in J&K's Doda district — the latest in a relentless pattern of monsoon tragedies on the region's mountain roads. With the highway shut and clearance work stalled by ongoing slides, the incident underscores how little has changed despite repeated advisories and enforcement drives.
Key Takeaways
Two people killed and several injured after shooting stones hit a passenger bus at Raggi Nallah , Doda district , on 20 July .
The highway was closed to traffic due to continuing mudslides and shooting stones; restoration work is underway.
Commuters have been advised to avoid the route until the road is officially declared safe.
Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Ramban, and Udhampur are among J&K's most accident-prone districts during monsoon.
Previous incidents include 10 Army soldiers killed at Khanni Top in January and three pilgrims killed near Khellani Tunnel in June.
At least two people were killed and several others injured on Monday, 20 July when shooting stones cascading from a hillside struck a passenger bus and multiple vehicles at Raggi Nallah in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir. The sudden descent of heavy boulders and debris caught commuters on the highway without warning, triggering a rescue operation and forcing authorities to shut the road.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to officials, large stones and debris slid off the hill and slammed into the passenger bus and several other vehicles travelling through Raggi Nallah. The impact caused casualties and vehicle damage. Rescue teams were immediately deployed to the site and transported the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Authorities subsequently closed the highway to all traffic due to continuing mudslides and the persistent threat of further shooting stones in the area. Restoration and clearance work is underway, officials said, though it is expected to take considerable time given the prevailing weather conditions. Commuters have been advised to avoid the route until conditions stabilise and the road is officially declared safe.
A Region Prone to Deadly Road Accidents
The hilly districts of Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Ramban, and Udhampur are frequently battered by landslides, mudslides, shooting stones, and road cave-ins, compounded by overloading and overspeeding. The mountainous terrain, sharp blind curves, and heavy monsoon rainfall make these stretches among the most hazardous in the country.
The traffic department has deployed special teams to enforce road safety rules, while the local administration issues regular advisories urging transporters not to operate in vulnerable zones during adverse weather. Despite these measures, fatal incidents continue to recur.
A Pattern of Tragedies on J&K's Mountain Roads
Monday's deaths are the latest in a grim sequence of road disasters across the region. In January, 10 Army soldiers were killed and 11 others injured when their bulletproof truck skidded off the road and plunged into a 200-foot-deep gorge at Khanni Top along the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road.
In June, three Machail Yatra pilgrims died and two were seriously injured when their car slipped into a deep gorge at Pakki Hatti near the Khellani Tunnel. In July 2025, seven passengers were killed and 15 injured when an overloaded tempo traveller fell into a gorge along the Doda-Barath road near Ponda. Separately, four people were killed near Sherbibi in Ramban district when falling boulders sent their truck into a gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway.
What Happens Next
Clearance operations at Raggi Nallah are ongoing, with restoration expected to take time as monsoon conditions persist. Officials have not yet confirmed when the highway will reopen. With the monsoon season far from over, road safety authorities face continued pressure to enforce restrictions and respond swiftly to fresh incidents across J&K's vulnerable mountain corridors.
Point of View
J&K's mountain highways claim lives in incidents that follow an almost identical script — sudden rockfall, vehicles caught unawares, highways shut, advisories issued, clearance promised. The pattern in Doda, Ramban, and Kishtwar is not new; it is structural. Special traffic enforcement teams and seasonal advisories have not broken the cycle. The real question is whether the administration is investing in geological hazard mapping, real-time slope-monitoring, and pre-emptive road closures — or simply responding after the casualties are counted.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Raggi Nallah in Doda on 20 July?
Shooting stones and debris cascaded from a hillside and struck a passenger bus and multiple vehicles at Raggi Nallah in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir, on 20 July. At least two people were killed and several others were injured in the incident.
Why is the highway closed after the Doda shooting stones incident?
Authorities closed the highway due to ongoing mudslides and the continued risk of shooting stones in the area following the accident. Restoration and clearance work is underway but is expected to take considerable time given the prevailing weather conditions.
Which districts in J&K are most prone to landslide-related road accidents?
Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Ramban, and Udhampur are the most vulnerable districts, according to officials. The combination of mountainous terrain, sharp blind curves, heavy monsoon rainfall, and overloaded vehicles makes these roads particularly dangerous.
What other major road accidents have occurred in J&K recently?
In January, 10 Army soldiers were killed when their truck plunged into a 200-foot gorge at Khanni Top. In June, three Machail Yatra pilgrims died near the Khellani Tunnel. In July 2025, seven passengers were killed on the Doda-Barath road near Ponda.
What precautions are authorities taking on J&K mountain roads?
The traffic department has deployed special teams to prevent and penalise violations, and the local administration issues regular advisories urging transporters to avoid vulnerable routes during bad weather. Commuters are currently advised to avoid the Raggi Nallah stretch until it is declared safe.
