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Ramban: Three personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) were injured on Saturday after three vehicles of a security forces convoy collided inside the Kela Morh tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district.
The accident occurred when the convoy of the 37th Battalion of the SSB was travelling from Srinagar towards Jammu. According to preliminary information, the lead vehicle of the convoy suddenly applied brakes inside the tunnel, following which the two vehicles behind it failed to stop in time and crashed into each other, resulting in a chain collision involving all three vehicles.
Officials said that rainy weather and slippery road conditions in the region may have contributed to the accident by making vehicle control difficult inside the tunnel. The impact of the collision left three SSB personnel injured, who were immediately evacuated from the spot and provided medical assistance.
The injured personnel have been identified as Jamani Kumar from Assam, Pankaj Kumar from Jammu and Babu Lal from Rajasthan. Officials said that all three personnel were stable and out of danger. They were initially shifted to District Hospital Ramban, where doctors conducted medical examinations and provided first aid. Dr Sudarshan Singh Katoch, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, confirmed that the three personnel were later referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu for further specialised treatment.
The accident briefly disrupted traffic movement inside the Kela Morh tunnel, leaving vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway. Traffic police, security forces and emergency response teams reached the spot and launched a clearance operation. The damaged convoy vehicles were removed from the roadway using recovery equipment, after which traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was restored. Despite the disruption and rainfall, civilian vehicles and security force convoys continued to operate on the highway.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, also known as NH-44, is a strategically important road corridor connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country. The highway witnesses regular movement of civilian traffic as well as defence and paramilitary convoys due to its importance for security operations, troop movement and logistics.
The incident has once again highlighted the challenges faced by commuters and security personnel travelling through the mountainous highway, where rainfall, landslides, slippery roads and reduced visibility often affect movement. Police have taken cognisance of the accident and initiated an inquiry to determine the exact circumstances behind the multi-vehicle collision inside the tunnel. Further details regarding the incident are awaited.
