Army Major killed, 2 Lieutenant-rank officers injured in SUV crash in Jaisalmer

A young Army Major tragically died after his SUV collided with a camel near Jaisalmer.

JAISALMER: A tragic late-night road accident near Jaisalmer Military Station claimed the life of a young Indian Army major and left two lieutenant-rank officers injured after their SUV collided with a camel and overturned multiple times on Thursday night, about 6 km from Jaisalmer city.The camel also died on the spot.According to officials, the three Army officers were returning to Jaisalmer Military Station from the city in a private SUV when a camel suddenly came onto the road near the War Museum.The vehicle hit the animal, lost control, rolled over nearly five times, and skidded for around 100 metres before coming to a halt.Army personnel and officers rushed to the accident site after receiving information about the crash.The three trapped officers were rescued from the mangled vehicle and taken to the Military Hospital at Jaisalmer Military Station.Major Hamza Arif, 30, a resident of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, succumbed to his injuries during treatment.He had been married just a month ago. The two injured officers, Lieutenant Abhinav Rathore and Lieutenant Ayushman Gusain, are undergoing treatment at the Military Hospital and are reported to have sustained injuries.The incident has cast a pall of gloom over Jaisalmer Military Station.According to ASI Jagdish Charan of Sadar Police Station, the police received information late at night about a vehicle overturning after colliding with a camel on the road ahead of the War Museum.On reaching the spot, police found the dead camel lying beside the road and a badly damaged black Tata Safari SUV (registration number GJ39CC1403) near the Army boundary wall.Police confirmed that the three Army officers had suffered serious injuries in the accident. Preliminary investigation indicates that the SUV lost control after the camel suddenly appeared on the road, resulting in the fatal crash.The body of Major Hamza Arif has been shifted to the mortuary at Jawahar Hospital, Jaisalmer, where a post-mortem examination is being conducted.Notably, the accident occurred at the same location where, about a year ago, a private bus caught fire in a devastating incident that claimed the lives of 29 passengers who were trapped inside.