Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU/RAMBAN, May 4: In a tragic accident today, a vehicle of the Army, which was part of a convoy heading towards Kashmir valley, developed some technical snag and plunged into a deep gorge at Monkey Morh in Maroog area of mountainous Ramban district on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway leaving all the three Army-men onboard the vehicle including the vehicle driver dead.
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As the Army convoy was heading smoothly towards Kashmir valley, the ill fated vehicle veered off the road and fell into a 500 metres deep gorge with a thud after which the other Army-men in the convoy started a rescue operation. Soon the cops, State Disaster Response Force personnel and local volunteers also reached and assisted the Army personnel in rescue operation.
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After hectic efforts, the rescuers retrieved the bodies of all the three soldiers who had died on the spot after the accident and the accident hit vehicle was reduced to a distorted heap of metal.
Though all the concerned authorities remained tight-lipped yet some reports claimed that the deceased Army-men were identified as Naib-Subedar, Sujeet Kumar; driver, Amit Kumar and Sepoy, Man Bahadur.
When contacted, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban, Kulbir Singh informed that three Army-men had died in the accident.
“In preliminary investigation, we found a freshly broken nut-bolt which was broken from the centre. It was found at a distance of 20 feet from the accident site and it might be broken by pressure,” he said adding: “I feel that nut-bolt was of the steering and after it broke the driver lost control over the steering which led to the mishap because Army vehicles in the convoy move with a slow speed. Rest will be revealed after further investigations.”
Some locals informed that the accident took place between 11.30 am and 12.00 noon.
SSP Ramban also informed that the accident hit vehicle contained certain things used by the Army and as it started veering off the road it smashed the parapet along the road taking it also into the gorge.
“There was no slippery condition on the road where the accident took place,” he continued.
Defence Public Relation Officer (PRO), Lieutenant Colonel Sunil Bartwal informed that details can only be revealed about the accident after investigation by the Army authorities.
Sources informed that after the rescuers retrieved the bodies of Army-men, the same were shifted to Military Hospital in Udhampur.
On social media platform X (earlier Twitter), the Northern Command of Indian Army posted: “An army vehicle moving as part of routine convoy on 4 May, slid off the road & fell into a gorge near Ramban. All three Army personnel travelling in the vehicle succumbed to the injuries in this tragic accident. #Northern Command stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief.”
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has condoled the loss of lives of Army personnel due to the tragic road accident in Ramban.
In a condolence message, the Lieutenant Governor said: “Deeply pained by the loss of lives of our brave Army personnel due to a tragic road accident in Ramban. My sincere condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief.”
The Congress also expressed sorrow at the deaths of three Army personnel killed when their vehicle plunged into a gorge in Ramban.
In a post on X Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge wrote: “Extremely pained to hear about the terrible tragedy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban, where three Indian Army soldiers have lost their lives due to a vehicle accident.”
“We salute their selfless service to the nation. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of our bravehearts,” he added.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi paid tribute to the soldiers and expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
“The news of the death of our soldiers due to the accident of an Army van in Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, is extremely saddening,” he said in a Facebook post.
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