3 soldiers die as Army vehicle plunges into gorge in Ramban

Three Army soldiers lost their lives on Sunday morning when the vehicle they were travelling in skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in Jammu division’s Ramban district.

The deceased soldiers have been identified as Sepoys Amit Kumar, Sujeet Kumar and Man Bahadur. They were a part of routine Army convoy moving towards Srinagar.

The accident occurred around 11.15 am near Battery Chashma, a section of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway currently undergoing road construction. According to Army officials, the Army vehicle veered off the road and rolled down into a gorge over 800 feet deep, sustaining heavy damage and causing critical injuries to the personnel on board.

An official said the vehicle’s reportedly lost control while negotiating a turn, resulting in the vehicle’s fall into the deep gorge.

Rescue efforts were launched by local police, Army personnel, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local volunteers from NGOs The Quick Reaction Team of Ramban police also reached the accident site to assist the operation.

Using ropes and rescue equipment, personnel descended into the gorge to retrieve the bodies of the soldiers. After recovery, the remains were brought to the main road and subsequently sent to the hospital.

In an official posted on X, the Northern Command of the Army said, “An army vehicle moving as part of routine convoy on May 4, slid off the road and 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.”