Banihal, March 01: An accident occurred this morning in the Battery Cheshma area of Ramban district, resulting in the loss of the driver’s life after a petrol tanker caught fire upon rolling down into a gorge from the national highway.
According to police officials, the unfortunate incident took place around 10 a.m. when a fully loaded tanker bearing registration number JK-02BV/4585, belonging to Bharat Petroleum, was en route from Jammu to Srinagar.
Tragically, the tanker caught fire immediately after plunging into the river Chenab upon rolling off the highway. The intensity of the blaze and the treacherous terrain made rescue operations challenging.
Ramban police, along with volunteers from the civil Quick Response Team (QRT) Ramban, swiftly launched a rescue mission upon receiving the distress call.
Despite their best efforts, they discovered the lifeless body of the driver, identified as Rajat Thapa, son of Charan Dass, hailing from the Bharat Petroleum depot in Jammu. Thapa had sustained severe burn injuries in the accident.
