SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Team Herald
Ten lives were lost as an SUV veered off the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, hurtling into the deep gorge valley of Ramban district. The unfortunate event unfolded in the early hours of Friday when a Chevrolet Tavera, en route from Srinagar to Jammu, met with a fatal accident at the treacherous Battery Cheshma area. The vehicle, navigating through the perilous hilly terrain, plummeted 300 feet into the gorge around 1:15 am.
Promptly responding to the distress call, police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams mobilized for a rescue mission despite adverse weather conditions exacerbated by heavy rainfall. Amidst the challenging circumstances, a concerted effort was made with manpower and machinery to retrieve the bodies of the ten passengers.
Among the recovered remains, two individuals were identified—Balwan Singh (47), hailing from Amb Ghrotha in Jammu, and Vipin Mukhiya Bhairagang from West Champaran, Bihar, underscoring the diverse backgrounds affected by this tragedy.
This grim incident echoes a similar calamity from the previous year, on November 15, 2023, when 39 lives were tragically lost and 17 others injured as a passenger bus careened off the road, plunging into a 300-400 foot deep gorge in Doda district. The recurrence of such accidents underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and vigilant enforcement to safeguard travelers navigating these perilous mountainous routes.
