Soldier killed as vehicle plunges into gorge in J&K

Jammu: An Army jawan was killed and six others injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, officials said on Saturday.
The accident took place near Sukrala Devi temple on Machedi-Billawar road on Friday when the troops were on patrol in the remote area, they said.
Rescuers, including locals, rushed to the scene and took the seven injured soldiers to a hospital where one of them Sepoy Ramkishor was declared brought dead, the officials said.
The Rising Star Corps of the Army held a wreath-laying ceremony and paid tributes to the deceased soldier.
"Rising Star Corps deeply regrets the unfortunate and untimely demise of braveheart Sep Ramkishor, while on operational duty. In this hour of grief, the Indian Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved family & is committed to their support,” it said in a post on X. Meanwhile, J&K police chief R R Swain Saturday hailed the rescue efforts by locals in Budgam where a bus carrying BSF personnel on election duty fell into a gorge, leaving three dead and 33 injured on Friday.
DGP Swain visited Brell village of Waterhail in central Kashmir's Budgam district where the accident took place on Friday. The DGP announced cash rewards and commendation medal for locals involved in the rescue effort.
"The way locals of Brell village came out to rescue the injured is commendable. I heard women also came out to help the injured," the DGP told reporters. pti