RAMBAN: At least ten people died after a passenger vehicle en route to Srinagar from Jammu veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Battery Cheshma in the Ramban area along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

An official told Jammu Links News that the accident took place shortly after midnight when a vehicle carrying mostly outside labourers plunged into a 1000ft deep gorge near Battery Chashma.

The local authorities, including the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Civil Quick Response Team (QRT) from Ramban, swiftly arrived at the scene to carry out the rescue operation.

However, due to the challenging terrain, darkness, and persistent rainfall in the area, rescue efforts couldn't be immediately undertaken.

As per Bashir Ahmad Magray, President Civil QRT, Ramban Volunteers Group, ten bodies were found in a gorge. He said the deceased are mostly outside labourers who were heading towards Kashmir for work.

The exact number of casualties and the condition of any survivors remain unknown as further details are awaited.