Udhampur (J&K), Jan 27: Four persons, including a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan, were killed in a tragic multi-vehicle accident on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) near Jakhani Chowk in Udhampur district on Tuesday, officials said.
The accident occurred around 11 am and involved a passenger bus, a roadside off-road vehicle undergoing repairs, and a motorcycle. Officials said the bus rammed into the stationary vehicle with force, crushing it completely.
The collision claimed the lives of the off-road vehicle’s driver and a mechanic who was repairing it at the time. Both died on the spot due to the impact.
Sharing details, Kartar Singh, Second-in-Command of the 137 Battalion CRPF, said that the crash also caused two passengers to be thrown out of the bus through a broken window into a deep gorge nearby. One of them was identified as a CRPF jawan of the 52 Battalion, who was on leave and travelling as a civilian. He later succumbed to his injuries.
Another civilian injured in the fall also died, raising the death toll to four. The identity of one deceased person is yet to be officially confirmed, officials added.
CRPF and police personnel jointly carried out rescue operations and retrieved the bodies, which were shifted to a nearby hospital for medico-legal formalities.
The incident has once again raised concerns over road safety on the busy Jammu Srinagar highway, which has witnessed several fatal accidents in recent months.
Report: Mansoor Qadir, ITN.
