Multiple Road Tragedies in AJK: Dozens Injured as School Van and Tourist Vehicles Plunge into Ravines

MUZAFFARABAD: A series of tragic road accidents in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have left several people dead and dozens injured, including schoolchildren, over the past 24 hours.

In the latest incident, a school van carrying students plunged into a ravine near Chakhar in the Jhelum Valley on Monday, injuring at least 30 people. According to police sources, the van was en route to school when it lost control and veered off the road.

The injured, which include several schoolchildren, were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital in Hattian Bala. Authorities confirmed that the van driver and two children are in critical condition, raising serious concerns about their survival.

In a separate and earlier accident, at least six people, including five women, lost their lives when a tourist vehicle fell into the Neelum River in Chilhana, Neelum Valley. Deputy Commissioner Neelum, Nadeem Janjua, confirmed the incident and said a child is still missing. A search operation is underway, though efforts have been hampered by the treacherous terrain and the depth of the river.

“The site is extremely difficult to access, which is delaying the recovery of the bodies and the search for the missing child,” DC Janjua stated.

In yet another tragic incident in the region, three people died and four others sustained injuries when a jeep plunged into a ravine on the Neelum Valley–Baboon road. The victims were shifted to a nearby hospital for medical assistance.

Read more: Swat Mourns the Loss of Assistant Director Prosecution Bushra Rasool in Tragic Road Accident

Authorities have urged travelers to exercise extreme caution while driving on mountainous roads, especially during the monsoon season, when conditions can become unpredictable and hazardous.