Cremations today at Narwal, Vijaypur
Bivek Mathur
JAMMU/SAMBA, Aug 11: Grief gripped Jammu and Samba districts after two Probationer Sub-Inspectors (PSIs) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police lost their lives in a road accident at Tengan in Srinagar’s Lasjan area early this morning.
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The incident occurred around 3:30 am on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway when PSIs Sachin Verma, Shubham Seth, and Mastan Singh were travelling to Jammu after completing Shri Amarnath Yatra duty.
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Their vehicle reportedly hit a road divider, leaving all of them injured. They were shifted to hospital, where Verma and Seth were declared as dead on arrival, while Singh is undergoing treatment.
Police said Verma had been deployed at Pantha Chowk, while Seth and Singh were on duty at the Railway Station in Awantipora.
Taking cognisance of the matter, police have registered a case under the relevant Sections of the law at the concerned police station and started further investigation into the matter.
As news of the tragedy started making rounds on the social media early morning, residents began gathering at the officers’ homes to pay their last respects.
In Narwal, hundreds assembled at Seth’s residence, where heart-wrenching scenes unfolded as family members wept inconsolably.
His community members termed him as a nice individual, who was always ready to help those in need.
“He was very helping for all of us. His recent selection in the police force had made us all proud, but who knew that his life in the force is very short,” one of his neighbours said.
Seth, a 2019 batch PSI of the 21st Battalion IRP, had recently been transferred from Kashmir but was yet to be relieved.
He had visited his home on Raksha Bandhan to celebrate with his sister. He is survived by his wife and a three-year-old son.
His father, Bhagwan Swaroop Seth, runs a dhaba in Narwal; his mother is a homemaker, and his younger brother is pursuing studies.
Relatives said he had recently qualified for the newly formed Cyber Commando Wing and was awaiting deputation.
Similarly, in Vijaypur, Samba, grief was equally intense at Verma’s home. The lone son of his family and a PSI in the 23rd Battalion IRP, he is survived by his wife and infant twins aged around five to six months.
His father, Sukhdev Verma, is a goldsmith; his mother is a homemaker, and his younger sister is a student.
The bodies reached their homes late in the evening—Verma’s around 9:45 PM and Seth’s at about 10:30 PM—where mourners offered floral tributes.
Cremations will take place at the respective cremation grounds in Vijaypur and Narwal tomorrow.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed deep grief over the tragedy and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families.
“Anguished by the tragic road accident in Nowgam, Srinagar. It is deeply saddening that two PSIs, Sachin Verma and Shubham Seth, have lost their lives. We will never forget their exemplary service to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The administration stands firm with them in their hour of grief,” he said in a statement.
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