Five dead, one injured as passenger cab plunges in gorge in Ramban

Ramban, June 05, 2021: Five persons were killed while another one was injured in a tragic accident after a cab in which they were travelling in plunged in a deep gorge at Ramban-Digdol on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Saturday.

Saddened by the loss of lives in Ramban road accident. My condolences to bereaved families. I have directed the concerned departments to carry out road safety audit and rectification measures within a week.

— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) June 5, 2021

Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that an accident took place in the afternoon when a passenger cab JK02BA-1707 plying on Jammu-Srinagar national highway skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge at Digdole area falling under Ramban district.

They said that six passengers were travelling in the vehicle and soon after accident took place, rescue operation was launched by civil administration, police, civil QRT, army and police.

“Three persons died on the spot while four others were rescued from river gorge and taken to local civil hospital where two more succumbed to injuries taking death toll to five,” an official said.

The official said that the deceased were identified as Garu son of Hans Raj resident of Talab Tillo Jammu, Vaneet Kour daughter of JP Singh resident of Gupkar Srinagar, CRPF Constable Shagun Kumar from Kangra Himachal Pradesh, Mohammad Rafiq son of Lal Ud Din resident of Balkoot Uri and IRP personnel Sanjeev Kumar son of Rikhi Ram resident of Pouni Reasi.

The injured one has been identified as Ajeet Kumar, a resident of Reasi is injured and under treatment with serious injuries.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday expressed grief over the accident and directed the departments concerned to carry out road safety audit and rectification measures within a week.

Concerned departments should also launch road – Safety awareness campaign on such stretches to check accidents caused due to human errors.

— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) June 5, 2021

Saddened by the loss of lives in Ramban road accident. My condolences to bereaved families. I have directed the concerned departments to carry out road safety audit and rectification measures within a week, the L-G said on Twitter.

Sinha also directed for launching road safety awareness campaigns on such stretches to check accidents caused due to human errors. —(KNO)