Vehicle was on road with expired fitness certificate, permit
Ajay Raina
RAMBAN, Aug 31: At least nine persons were feared dead while another was rescued when the Tempo Traveller they were traveling in skidded off the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and fell into the Chenab river near Mehar area here today.
The vehicle later submerged into swollen river Chenab and it was assumed that eight persons traveling in it are feared dead. A cop traveling in the vehicle to his native Chandergam area of Tral in district Pulwama was rescued.
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As per reports, a Tempo Traveller bearing registration number JK14D-7929 was on its way to Ramban from Jammu, when the driver lost control over the vehicle and it plunged into river Chenab near Mehar area of district Ramban on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
After getting information, police team rushed to the spot and with the assistance of volunteers of Quick Reaction Team launched a rescue operation and saved one passenger, who was identified as a cop posted with JKAP-7th Battalion at Channi Himmat area of district Jammu namely Mehraj-ud-Din, son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din, a resident of Chandrigam area of Tral in district Pulwama.
According to the injured cop, at least 8 to 9 persons were traveling in the vehicle, when the accident took place. Two ladies de-boarded the vehicle at Karol, one kilometer short of the mishap site, he added.
In the incident, the injured received minor bruises as he slipped out of the vehicle through Emergency Door.
The cop informed that a Head Constable Ajay Kumar and a Constable Hafiz Hussain were also traveling in the vehicle, when the accident took place.
Later, Union Territory Disaster Rescue Force (UTDRF) rushed to the spot and joined the rescue operation.
However, there was no clue about the missing/drowned persons as vehicle submerged into the river Chenab, while rescue operation was going on till last reports were compiled.
Eye witnesses informed that some luggage of victims were seen floating in river Chenab near Masjid Market area, about 3 kilometers ahead of accident site.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban Haseeb-ur-Rehman, “one person was rescued while eight to nine others are missing after the accident of Tempo Traveler at Mehar area of district Ramban on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway”.
As per sources, the vehicle was plying on road without fitness certificate and valid permit. The fitness of the vehicle expired on 24th January 2020, while its permit was valid from October 21, 2017 to October 20, 2019, as found on Government website “parivahan.gov.in”.
A case under FIR Number 144/2020 under Sections 279 and 337 IPC has been registered at Ramban Police Station and investigation has been initiated to ascertain the reasons behind the accident.
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