MUZAFFARABAD: Four persons were killed and six others injured when a mini truck carrying a young oxfor a bullock racing event plunged about 200 metres into a ravine in the southern Mirpur district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Monday.

The accident occurred at around 10am when the brakes of the Shehzore pickup failed while it was ascending a steep stretch of road some four kilometres ahead of the Dhan Galli bridge, within the jurisdiction of the Dadyal police station, police official Waheed Khan told Dawn by telephone.

He said there were 10 persons, including the driver, aboard the vehicle, which was transporting the ox to participate in Monday’s racing competition in the Ban Sain area of Dadyal – an affluent AJK town, along the banks of Mangla Lake, known for hosting traditional horse races, tent pegging, bullock races and animal fairs.

Three of the occupants — driver Tahir Nadeem, son of Ahmad Deen, a resident of Gawara in Sudhnoti district; Rashid, son of Ahmad, and Asim, son of Manzoor, resident of Saagri and Banal, respectively, in Rawalpindi district — died on the spot, while seven others sustained injuries.

Mr Khan said two of the injured were shifted to Rawalpindi in critical condition, but one of them — Muhammad Junaid, son of Muhammad Fayaz, a resident of Rawat, Rawalpindi — succumbed to his injuries en route to a hospital.

The remaining five injured were being treated at the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Dadyal and were reported to be out of danger, he added.

The young ox sustained fractures to both its legs and was slaughtered shortly after being recovered from the rear cage of the mini truck.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2026