At least 10 people lost their lives on Friday after a passenger taxi rolled down a deep gorge on the Jammu and Srinagar National Highway.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to the Deputy Commissioner after learning about the road accident and is in constant touch (with the authorities).

"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. I'm in constant touch. My sincere condolences to the bereaved families," he said.

According to reports, the accident took place near Battery Chashma in the Ramban area.The police, State Disaster Response Force, and civil Quick Response Team had launched a rescue operation.

Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir police said that a rescue operation was going on.

"A passenger taxi rolled down a deep gorge on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Battery Chashma in the Ramban area. Police, SDRF and civil QRT Ramban reached the spot; rescue operation are going on," said an official of the J&K Police.