On a fateful morning of March 29, 2024, a passenger cab met with a devastating accident on the Jammu-Srinagar highway near Battery Chashma in the Ramban area. The cab, carrying 10 occupants, plunged into a deep gorge, resulting in the loss of all lives on board. The incident occurred around 1:15 am as the vehicle was en route from Srinagar to Jammu.
Rescue Efforts Amid Challenging Conditions
As soon as the information about the accident was received, a team of local police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and civil Quick Response Team (QRT) of Ramban rushed to the spot. However, the rescue operation faced initial challenges due to heavy rains and darkness, hindering their efforts to locate the ill-fated vehicle and its occupants.
10 feared dead after a passenger vehicle rolled down a deep gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Battery Chashma in
Ramban area.
Rescue operation underway, more details awaited. @DDNewslive @diprjk pic.twitter.com/SfOlVe4K5K— DD NEWS SRINAGAR (@ddnewsSrinagar) March 29, 2024
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Recovered Amid Adverse Weather
Despite the adverse weather conditions, the rescue teams persevered, and with the first light of day, they were able to resume their operations. Amid the challenging circumstances, all 10 bodies were eventually recovered from the gorge. Among the deceased were the cab driver, Balwan Singh (47), a resident of Amb Ghrotha in Jammu, and Vipin Mukhiya Bhairagang from West Champaran in Bihar.
10 passengers lost their lives after the vehicle they were travelling in fell into 300 mtr deep gorge near Battery Chashma in Ramban on #SrinagarJammu National Highway. Rescue teams are currently retrieving the dead bodies from the spot. #JammuKashmir https://t.co/FOKNZDz0b2 pic.twitter.com/Fr6f6Y8Mt8
— Suhail Nazeer (@SaahilSuhail) March 29, 2024
A Somber Reminder of Road Safety
This tragic incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for utmost caution while traversing the treacherous terrains of the Jammu-Srinagar highway. The weather department had issued a forecast for rain or snow with thunderstorms in the region, which may have played a role in the accident.
Condolences and Calls for Improved Infrastructure
As the news of the accident spread, condolences poured in from various quarters, with many expressing their heartfelt sympathies for the families of the deceased. Calls for improved road infrastructure and better safety measures on the highway have also been raised, with the hope that such tragic incidents can be prevented in the future.
"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 loss of 10 lives. Police, SDRF and civil QRT have reached the spot. Rescue… pic.twitter.com/fy5BllxU2Z
— ANI (@ANI) March 29, 2024
Deeply saddened by the loss of 10 lives in a tragic road accident as a passenger taxi rolled down a deep gorge near Battery Cheshma in Ramban distt. The commendable rescue efforts by local NGOs from Ramban, Banihal, and Ramsoo, along with SDRF and police, are appreciated. My… pic.twitter.com/R7cTSzYGvn
— Ghulam Nabi Azad (@ghulamnazad) March 29, 2024
In conclusion, this devastating accident on the Jammu-Srinagar highway has left a trail of grief and sorrow, underscoring the importance of prioritizing road safety and taking necessary precautions while traveling through challenging terrains.
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