SRINAGAR: Ten people lost their lives after a cab, en route to Kashmir from Jammu, plunged into a 300-meter deep gorge near Battery Chashma area of Ramban district along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Friday morning, officials said.
An official said that a Tavera vehicle carrying passengers, on the way towards Kashmir valley from Jammu, rolled down into a deep gorge approximately 300 meters near Battery Chashma on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
“Rescue operations, involving Ramban Police, SDRF, and local volunteers, are ongoing despite challenging terrain and continuous rain in the area. So far, eight to ten bodies have been found,” the official said.
The identities of two deceased based on an ID document are as follows: (driver) Balwan Singh, son of Purab Singh, from Jammu, and Vipin Mukhiya, son of Vishwa Nath Mukhiya, resident of Bihar.
“The majority of those dead are non-Jammu and Kashmir residents; further rescue operation is ongoing,” the official added.
Station House Officer (SHO), Ramban, told KNO that around eight to ten people have lost their lives in the tragic accident and further search is ongoing.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, upon hearing the tragic news, expressed condolences to the bereaved families who lost their family members in the accident.
“Spoke to DC Ramban, Baseer-ul-Haq after learning about the tragic road accident in which a passenger taxi rolled down a deep gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Battery Chashma leading to the loss of 10 lives. Police, SDRF, and civil QRT have reached the spot. The rescue operation is ongoing. I’m in constant touch. My sincere condolences to the bereaved families,” he wrote on X. —(KNO)
