JAMMU, September 12th – Tragedy struck as a vehicle carrying passengers on the vital Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Jammu and Kashmir was reportedly struck by a boulder, resulting in the loss of four lives, according to officials on Tuesday.
The Deputy Commissioner of Ramban district reported, “A vehicle was reportedly hit by a boulder at Wagan Banihal on NH 44. Four bodies were recovered, and all have been transferred to SDH Banihal.”
The victims of the Wagan accident have been identified as follows: M Afzal Garoo (driver), son of Aziz Garoo, resident of Redwani, aged 42; M. Altaf Garoo, son of Aziz Garoo and the driver’s brother, aged 36; Irfan Ahmed, son of Ab Hamid Bhat, hailing from Trail, Srigufara, Anantnag, aged 33; Showkat Ahmed, son of Ab Hamid, also from Trail, Srigufara, Anantnag, aged 29, as stated by the Deputy Commissioner of Ramban.
In the aftermath of landslides at Kishtwari Pather in Banihal, the national highway has been blocked, leading to the suspension of traffic movement from both directions. To ensure safety, the traffic police of the union territory issued an advisory recommending confirmation from the Traffic Control Unit (TCU) before embarking on any travel along the highway.
The Jammu-Srinagar national highway holds immense significance as it serves as the vital lifeline connecting the Kashmir region with the rest of the country. Earlier in August, the annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath, which typically commences from Jammu to Srinagar, was suspended due to a landslide on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in the Ramban district, highlighting the vulnerability of the region to such natural events.
