Ganderbal, May 29: A driver and his conductor had a miraculous escape after a 14-wheeler trailer truck plunged nearly 400 feet into a deep gorge near Zojila along the Srinagar-Kargil route, officials said on Friday.
The accident occurred near Pani Matha in the Zojila sector when the trailer, traveling from Sonamarg to Kargil, reportedly went out of the driver’s control and skidded off the road before falling into the gorge.
Officials identified the vehicle as a 14-wheeler trailer bearing registration number JK01BC/2359.
Despite the severity of the accident and the considerable height from which the vehicle fell, both the driver and conductor survived in what officials and locals described as a miraculous escape.
The truck, however, was completely destroyed in the crash.
The mishap triggered concern among commuters and transport operators using the Srinagar-Kargil Highway, a strategically important yet challenging mountain route known for sharp curves, steep gradients and difficult driving conditions.
Police and local authorities reached the spot soon after the accident to assess the situation and collect details regarding the circumstances leading to the crash.
The condition of the driver and conductor have been shifted to Primary Health Centre Sonamarg, while authorities were examining the cause of the accident.
The Zojila axis witnesses frequent traffic movement during the operational season, and road safety concerns often surface due to difficult terrain and unpredictable weather conditions in the high-altitude pass. [KNT]
