MUZAFFARABAD: Eight people, including a woman, were killed and seven others wounded when a public transport vehicle plunged into a ravine in Mirpur district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Sunday, police said.

The accident occurred somewhere between Neel Kacham and Pir Galli villages at about 12.40pm while the ill-fated vehicle was heading towards the town of Samahni, in the neighbouring Bhimber district, said Riaz Haider Bukhari, senior superintendent of police (SSP) in Mirpur. “While negotiating a curve the wagon veered off the course and fell some 250 feet down the road into a ravine,” he said.

The vehicle was badly smashed and as a result eight passengers died on the spot while another seven, including the driver, received multiple wounds, the SSP said.

Seven of the deceased were identified as Muhammad Ishtiaq, Wasim Sabir, Yasir Mahmood, Abdul Karim, Aazan, Hasnain and Samina Mukhtar.

One of the deceased was removed to his Kala Dhab village from the site of the accident and his name was yet to be ascertained, the SSP said.

Six of the injured persons, who were admitted to the district headquarters hospital in Mirpur, were identified as Mukhtar Hussain, Alina Bibi, Muhammad Waseem (driver), Muhammad Usman, Rukh­sana Bibi and three-year old Mahnoor. Two of them were stated to be in critical condition, the SSP said.

Road accidents frequently occur in AJK’s hilly areas and are blamed mostly on dilapidated roads and faulty vehicles.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2018