SRINAGAR: After retrieving their bodies, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have succeeded in establishing the identity of all the ten people who were killed in a fatal road accident on the mountainous Ramban district stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Friday. Primarily migrant labourers, eight of them were hailing from Bihar and one from Uttar Pradesh (UP).
The incident unfolded in the early hours of Friday, as the vehicle they were traveling in, a Tavera cab with registration number JK12-8728, lost control and plummeted into a 400-foot deep gorge near Battery Chashma.
According to sources, the accident occurred between 1:30-2:00 am, shrouding the region in profound sorrow. The victims, including eight from Bihar, one from UP, and the Jammu-based driver, were en route from Jammu to Srinagar when tragedy struck.
The impact of the accident was so severe that the bodies of the deceased were found in a mutilated state, underscoring the gravity of the incident. Initial reports suggest that the passengers were likely heading to Srinagar for labor-related endeavors, highlighting the plight of migrant workers seeking livelihood opportunities far from their native lands.
The first body to be recovered was identified as Balwan Singh, the driver of the ill-fated vehicle, whose relatives confirmed his identity. Subsequently, the bodies of the other nine victims were also retrieved, a painstaking process that lasted until 1:30 pm.
Senior police and civil officials, including DC Ramban Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary, and DIG Shridhar Patil, visited the accident site to assess the situation and oversee rescue efforts. Despite the challenging conditions, search operations persisted, with parts of the vehicle recovered from a nearby rivulet, known locally as ‘Bisleri Nallah.’
The identities of the deceased paint a poignant picture of their diverse backgrounds and shared aspirations. Among them were Raju Kumar, Avadhesh Bin, Belas Bin, Indrajit Bin, Bipin Mukhiya, Raj Kumar Bin, Hari Bin, Sandeep, and Rajan Mukhiya, each with their own stories and dreams, tragically cut short on that fateful night.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other political figures have extended their condolences to the grieving families. PM Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the kin of each deceased, while efforts are underway to ensure the swift repatriation of the bodies.
