A deep sense of grief has enveloped Chanauli village in Punjab’s Rupnagar district following the death of 23-year-old Sowar Jobanjeet Singh, who was among 10 Indian Army personnel killed in a tragic road accident in Doda.
The accident occurred near Khani Top, around 25 km from Bhaderwah, when a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Casspir vehicle carrying 21 soldiers skidded on a snow-covered road, failed to negotiate a sharp curve, and plunged into a 200-foot-deep gorge.
Jobanjeet Singh, the only son of former soldier Subedar Major Balbir Singh, had joined the Indian Army in September 2019 and was serving with 8 Cavalry, Armoured Unit (4 Rashtriya Rifles). His untimely death has left the family and the entire region in shock.
Adding to the tragedy, Jobanjeet was scheduled to get married on March 1, and wedding preparations, including shopping, had already been completed. What was meant to be a time of celebration has instead turned into mourning.
Speaking to the media, his father Balbir Singh said he had spoken to his son just two days before the accident.
“He told me he was going for an operation and would call me after returning. Instead, we received the heartbreaking news,” he said.
Balbir Singh also mentioned that his son was deployed on a 72-hour operation and questioned why a proposed transfer had reportedly been delayed for several months. He urged authorities to seriously investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Locals described Jobanjeet as sociable, disciplined, and talented, with a promising future ahead. As news of his death spread, mourning extended across Chanauli, Nurpur Bedi, and nearby villages.
The loss of the young soldier—just weeks before beginning a new chapter of life—has deeply moved the community, serving as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families in service of the nation.
