Jammu, Mar 29 (Reporter) At least ten persons including nine labourers from Bihar and one local driver were among killed early morning on Friday in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir. Police said that at around 1:15 am, reports came in of a Travera vehicle (passenger taxi) plunged into a deep gorge approximately 300 to 400 meters near Battery Chashma. They said that the police team swiftly rushed to the scene while ivil quick response teams and UTDRF teams were also alerted and instructed to reach the spot without delay. Despite heavy rain and darkness hindering the rescue efforts, all teams persevered tirelessly, said police. They added that the CCTV footage from the surrounding area aided in identifying the ill-fated vehicle with registration number JK 12 8728. "In the early morning hours, the first body, identified as Balwan Singh, son of Purab Singh, resident of Amb Ghorota Tehsil and District Jammu and the driver of the vehicle, was recovered and identified by relatives," said police. Senior officials including DC Ramban, Basheer Chaudhary, SSP Ramban, Anuj Kumar, DIG DKR Shridhar Patil visited the site to assess the situation. Subsequently, the bodies of nine other individuals were also recovered and the search for the vehicle is ongoing, led by a team supervised by the DySP Headquarter. Of the deceased, the driver of the vehicle hailed from Jammu, one passenger was from Uttar Pradesh, and the remaining eight passengers were from the Champaran area of Bihar. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed shock and grief over the loss of lives in the Ramban road accident. In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief on the accident and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund would be given to the next of kin of each of the deceased. In a condolence message, the Lt Governor said, “I am deeply shocked to learn of the unfortunate road accident in Ramban today, in which precious lives have been lost. I send my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I have issued instructions to the District Administration and Divisional Commissioner to render all assistance, as provided in rule, to the kin of victims”. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said he spoke to DC Ramban, Baseer-ul-Haq, after learning about the tragic road accident in which a passenger taxi rolled down a deep gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Battery Chashma, leading to the loss of 10 lives. “My sincere condolences to the bereaved families,” Dr Singh said in his post on X. President Droupadi Murmu mourned the loss of lives in a road accident and conveyed her condolences to the bereaved families. “The news of people getting killed after a vehicle fell into a gorge in the Ramban area on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway is very sad. I offer my condolences to the bereaved families,” Murmu said in a post in Hindi on X. The deceased were identified as Raju Kumar, son of Sardha Nishad, resident of Bharisthan Semralabadaha, Avadhesh Bin, son of Swaminath Bin, resident of Bhaisahiya Semralabedaha, Belas Bin, son of Badari Bin, resident of Ward No 8 Pachrukha Sirisiya Madhanpur, Indrajit Bin, son of Swami Nath Bin, resident of Bhaisahiya Semralabedaha, Bipin Mukhiya, son of Vishwanath Mukhiya, resident of Ward No 13 Inaar Barwa Bherav Ganj, Raj Kumar Bin, son of Bechu Bin, resident of Village Kalash Nagar Nariayan Pur, Hari Bin, son of Chnnar Bin, resident of Bairi Asthan Semralabedaha, Rajan Mukhiya, son of Sonu Mukhiya, resident of Belaura Sahsu (all from West Champaran, Bihar) and Sandeep, son of Shivmangal, resident of Sohasa Maharaj Ganj, Uttar Pradesh. Police said that an FIR under relevant sections has been registered in Ramban Police station and further rescue and investigation is under way...////...