In a tragic incident that took place on June 28, 2025, a truck went out of control on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) and dived into a deep gorge at the Nachlana area in Banihal, Jammu and Kashmir. The early morning disaster which also saw the loss of two lives brings to light the ever present issues with what is one of India’s most difficult highways which is very much a part of the route that connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country.
The event took place on June 28, 2025, at around 6:15 AM IST while a truck was en route from Jammu to Srinagar. Suffering the most were the two deceased, Anil Sharma, aged 38 and hailing from Kathua who worked as the driver alongside a helper whose name is still pending confirmation. They both died immediately as a result of the severe trauma sustained in the fall.
In the town of Nachlana in Banihal which is in Ramban district along NH-44 we had the accident. This section of the highway in the mountainous region of J&K is known for its narrow winding roads and steep drop off points. That part of the highway which is embedded in the tough topography of Jammu and Kashmir sees a great deal of accidents what with the sharp turns and variable weather. Recently we had heavy rain as reported by the India Meteorological Department which left the road in a slippery state thus causing loss of control. The mix of wet conditions and the road’s unstable structure created a dangerous setting for large vehicles.
As per the initial report of Inspector Mohammad Yousuf from Banihal police, it was a case of a truck falling approximately 200 feet into a gorge, most likely due to an excessive change in speed or not being able to take a very sharp curve. The vehicle which had freight supplies on board had its break damaged and shipped so badly that determining its precise cause became fairly complicated. Some immediate factors such as physical condition of the driver, mental strain through long working hours, and even the quality of roads are still being investigated because conclusive results cannot be finalized without further testing for mechanical failures.
Driven by reports from local residents as well as traveling motorists, Banihal police along with local rescue teams immediately responded. People from nearby villages helped out in the difficult recovery effort of reaching the steep and rocky crash site. “It went on for hours and hours,” and the depth of the gorge and the mangled condition of the truck made it that much more challenging, he said. After a tortuous struggle to reach the bodies they were transported to a nearby hospital for post-mortem examinations and families informed by late morning.
The incident reinforces profound improvements which need to be dealt swiftly on NH-44 frequent accidents caused by poorly maintained roads, safety barriers problems and lots of traffic exhibit numerous NH-44 issues. The turning point here is loss deaths of Anil Sharma along with his helper serves for Residents, Truck drivers and Authorities in Ramban district this expressway is vital but very dangerous poses enduring threats reminder on how hazardous safety infrastructure needs refinement. This region bears sustainable grief awaiting intervention calls on road construction boosted concrete flexible policies aggressive deal striking safety policies slabs upcoming risks fueled community call pending.
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