MUZAFFARABAD: An assistant director, three inspectors and a constable of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) police lost their lives on Wednesday when their vehicle plunged into a deep ravine in the Poonch division.

According to a statement from the central control room, a police pickup was travelling along the Toli Pir–Lasdanna Road when the tragic accident occurred around 6:30pm near a place known as Chatti Dhok.

“The vehicle skidded off the road and tumbled hundreds of feet down the mountainside, crashing into trees and rocks before being reduced to wreckage,” said Khalid Kiani, an official at the police control room in Rawalakot.

He added that all five personnel on board died on the spot.

The deceased were identified as Zakir Hussain Awan, assistant director in the office of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Poonch Region; Yasir Bashir Kiani, inspector telecommunications and personal staff officer to the DIG Poonch; Inspector Chaudhry Naveed Ahmed, Station House Officer (SHO) Khaigala; Sub-Inspector Ali Ahmed Bukhari, reader to the DIG Poonch and Constable Mohammad Faheem, accounts branch, Poonch Region.

Two of them belonged to Muzaffarabad, one to Kotli, one to Haveli and one to Rawalakot.

Police sources said the vehicle had been allotted to Inspector Kiani and it was assumed that the officials might have gone for a picnic in the scenic area during a holiday.

SSP Bagh Raja Akmal, who reached the accident site near the Bagh district boundary and oversaw rescue operation, told Dawn that the victims’ bodies had been thrown out of the vehicle and were found scattered within a radius of 200 feet.

He said the bodies were retrieved by 8:30pm.

“We are now heading to Rawalakot, where collective funeral prayers will be held before the bodies are sent to their respective hometowns,” he said.

In a statement, Inspector General of Police Rana Abdul Jabbar expressed profound grief over the tragic loss of five police officials and extended heartfelt condolences to their families.

He said the departed officers had served with dedication and commitment, and assured that the department would fully support and look after their families.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2025