A forest fire in the Upper Nachlana area of Ramban district claimed the life of a truck driver and left his helper injured when a burning tree fell on their moving truck late Monday evening.
Official sources told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the truck (JK03G-1677) was passing through the national highway towards Jammu, when a massive tree, engulfed in flames, abruptly uprooted and fell on the front portion of the vehicle. The driver died on the spot, while the helper sustained injuries and was rushed to District Hospital Banihal for treatment.
The truck suffered extensive damage in the incident.
Fire and Emergency Services deployed fire tenders to the spot to combat the blaze, which had engulfed over a dozen large trees. “After prolonged and intensive efforts, the fire was brought under control,” said an official.