Tragic Road Mishap Claims Lives of Three Soldiers on Jammu-Srinagar Highway

Fatal Accident on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway

Jammu: On Sunday, a tragic road accident on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir resulted in the deaths of three soldiers, according to officials.

The incident occurred when an army vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Battery Chashma.

An official reported, "The driver lost control, causing the vehicle to fall into the gorge. Sadly, all three soldiers died at the scene. A rescue operation was promptly initiated."

Authorities have filed a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the accident.

The Jammu-Srinagar highway has faced intermittent closures over the past two weeks due to landslides caused by heavy rainfall in the Ramsoo-Ramban area.

In several locations, mudslides and landslides have severely damaged the road. Although repairs have been made, the Ramban-Ramshoo stretch, which spans over 40 kilometers, remains a vulnerable section of this crucial nearly 300-km highway.

This highway is essential for transporting army supplies and civil goods to the isolated Valley. Any temporary closure can lead to shortages of vital supplies, including fuel and food.

During such closures, unscrupulous traders often exploit the situation, creating artificial shortages to inflate prices for desperate consumers.

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding this highway has led Kashmiris to long for a rail connection to the rest of the country for the past 70 years.

Fortunately, the long-awaited rail link from Katra in the Jammu region to Baramulla in the Valley is now ready for inauguration.

Once operational, this rail link is expected to significantly benefit sectors such as horticulture, agriculture, tourism, and education, making travel more affordable and reliable year-round.