Jitendra Singh expresses condolences after 10 die in Ramban accident

Srinagar, March 29: Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh has condoled the demise of ten persons in a road accident in the Ramban area of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Spoke to DC #Ramban Sh 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 loss of 10 lives. Police, SDRF and civil QRT have reached the spot. Rescue operation is going on. I’m in constant touch. My sincere condolences to the bereaved families,” posted Singh on X.

At least ten people died after a passenger vehicle en route to Srinagar from Jammu veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Battery Cheshma in the Ramban area along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

An official told Greater Kashmir that the accident took place shortly after midnight when a vehicle carrying mostly outside labourers plunged into a 1000ft deep gorge near Battery Chashma.

The local authorities, including the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Civil Quick Response Team (QRT) from Ramban, swiftly arrived at the scene to carry out the rescue operation.

However, due to the challenging terrain, darkness, and persistent rainfall in the area, rescue efforts couldn’t be immediately undertaken.

As per Bashir Ahmad Magray, President Civil QRT, Ramban Volunteers Group, ten bodies were found in a gorge. He said the deceased are mostly outside labourers who were heading towards Kashmir for work.

The exact number of casualties and the condition of any survivors remain unknown as further details are awaited.