Poonch: Jammu and Kashmir’s Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary had a narrow escape on Wednesday when the bulletproof vehicle he was travelling in suffered a brake failure near the Chandimarh area of Poonch district.
According to officials, the vehicle, part of his security convoy, lost control due to sudden brake malfunction while navigating the hilly stretch of the Mughal Road. The alert driver managed to bring the speeding vehicle to a halt using the hand brake, preventing a potentially serious accident.
Choudhary, who was en route from Srinagar to Poonch to pay obeisance at the Buddha Amarnath shrine, was immediately shifted to another vehicle to continue his journey.
Security agencies have launched a technical inspection of the failed vehicle, while senior officials termed it a close call. “It could have been dangerous, but the driver’s quick response saved lives,” a senior police officer said.
The incident has raised concerns over the condition and maintenance of security vehicles used by top political figures travelling in the high-altitude region.
