MUZAFFARABAD: Seven people, including three women, lost their lives, and three others sustained injuries when a passenger van plunged hundreds of feet from an unmetalled hilly road near its destination northeast of Muzaffarabad on Friday, police and rescue workers said.

The ill-fated vehicle, a Toyota Hiace van, had left Muzaffarabad for Kelgran village, located around 35 kilometres away at an altitude of 4,000 feet along the right bank of the Neelum River and the tragic accident occurred just 500 meters short of its destination around 4:15 pm.

The van veered off the katcha road and tumbled nearly 500 feet into a ditch after several somersaults, said Nadeem Malik, one of the rescue workers from a nongovernmental organisation. The accident resulted in six fatalities on the spot, while another victim died en route to the hospital, he added.

Assistant Commissioner Patikka Chaudhry Iqbal Hassan confirmed that the van was carrying nine passengers, including the driver and a nine-year-old boy. Additionally, a man identified as Ejaz Ahmad was clinging to the rear of the van but managed to jump to safety, sustaining only minor injuries.

He identified the deceased as Mohammad Shakoor, 46, Syed Shah Mohammad, 70, Salma Bibi, 42, wife of Ilyas Mughal, Imtiaz, 40, Sajid, 35, Noreen Bibi, 35, and Parveen Bibi, 50.

The injured included the young boy, Khizar, who was treated for minor injuries and sent home, while the driver, Syed Waqar Shah, 40, was hospitalised in Muzaffarabad in a critical condition.

AJK Minister for Wildlife and Fisheries Sardar Javed Ayoub, in whose constituency the accident site is situated, expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the victims’ families.

He also announced an inquiry to determine the cause of the accident.

The minister’s constituency, generally referred to as Kutla, has witnessed a high number of fatal road accidents in recent years, mainly due to the poor condition of the road infrastructure. Transporters often avoid using new vehicles on these treacherous roads, opting instead for older or less reliable ones.

In response to a question, Mr Ayoub acknowledged this ‘bitter reality’ but reiterated his commitment to improving both the road network in the hilly area and the quality of public transport.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2024