Six Family Members Killed in Neelum River Accident in Azad Jammu and Kashmir
In a heartbreaking tragedy, six members of a family lost their lives on Friday when their car veered off a treacherous mountain road and crashed down a steep slope along the Neelum River in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The fatal accident happened near Chilyana village, about 50 kilometres northeast of Muzaffarabad, the region’s capital. Chilyana sits across from the Indian-occupied village of Titwal on the opposite bank of the Neelum River — once a symbolic crossing point under the now-defunct cross-Line of Control (LoC) travel arrangement.
Deadly Turn on a Dangerous Curve
According to Akhtar Ayoub, the District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) for Neelum Valley, the vehicle went out of the driver’s control shortly after Friday prayers while trying to navigate a sharp bend on the winding Neelum Valley road.
“It rolled down the mountain slope but stopped just short of entering the river; otherwise, it would have been swept away by the violent current,” Ayoub said while speaking to local media.
Emergency services, including a Rescue 1122 unit dispatched from Athmuqam, rushed to the scene. Local police, army personnel, and villagers joined the rescue operation to recover the bodies from the wreckage.
All Lives Lost Were From One Family
The victims were identified as Ameer Khan, 65; his wife, Gulshan Bibi, 50; daughters Naima Bibi, 23, and Mishal Bibi, 21; and relatives Sundas, 27, and Halima Basheer, 27.
The family hailed from Botha Tanda village on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad and were reportedly travelling to Jura town to visit relatives when the tragedy struck.
Their bodies were recovered and transported to a nearby army unit in Nauseri, where they were formally identified and handed over to grieving family members.
Condolences Pour In
AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar, Minister for Law Mian Abdul Waheed, and PML-N regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives.
In condolence messages, they extended sympathies to the bereaved family and urged motorists to exercise extreme caution while driving on the region’s dangerous, winding mountain roads.
Tragic Accidents a Common Threat in AJK
Fatal road accidents are tragically common in Pakistan’s mountainous areas, where poor infrastructure, sharp bends, landslides, and traffic violations often turn ordinary journeys into deadly ones.
In May, another tragic incident saw an assistant director, three inspectors, and a constable of the AJK police lose their lives when their police vehicle plunged into a deep ravine in Poonch division. That accident occurred when the police pickup skidded off the Toli Pir–Lasdanna Road near Chatti Dhok and tumbled down the mountainside, smashing into rocks and trees.
Need for Safer Roads and Responsible Driving
Officials continue to stress the urgent need for road safety awareness and better infrastructure in mountainous areas like Neelum Valley. The region’s rugged terrain and sharp turns demand skilled driving and strict adherence to safety rules.
The tragic accident that killed six family members is a grim reminder of the perils that persist on Pakistan’s mountain roads, taking innocent lives far too often.
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