Eight Passengers Dead After Van Plunges Into Ravine In Azad Kashmir, Pakistan Officials Launch Rescue Operation

Muzaffarabad, Pakistan— A passenger van plunged into a deep ravine in Azad Kashmir on November 1, 2026, killing eight passengers and injuring several others in a crash on a narrow mountain road.

The van was traveling from Rawalpindi toward Muzaffarabad. It carried 14 people. Near Kohala, on a sharp bend with no guardrail, the driver lost control. The van skidded off the asphalt and fell more than 150 meters into a rocky ravine.

Local police and rescue volunteers scrambled down the slope. They found the van crushed at the bottom. Eight bodies were trapped inside. Six survivors, including the driver, were pulled out alive with broken bones and head injuries. They were carried up on stretchers.

"The road is narrow and has no barrier. The driver apparently braked hard on a curve. The van went straight off the edge," a district police officer said at the site. He said overloading and brake failure are being examined.

Mountain road crashes are common in Azad Kashmir. Vehicles are often old, poorly maintained, and overloaded to maximize profit. Roads are carved into cliffs with little safety infrastructure. Driver fatigue is frequent on long routes.

Residents said the same spot has seen at least three fatal accidents this year. They called for guardrails and warning signs. One local councilor said he had petitioned the highways department twice without response.

The injured were taken to Combined Military Hospital in Muzaffarabad. Two are in critical condition. Families arrived by afternoon and waited outside the emergency ward. Officials said identification of the dead is underway.

The Azad Kashmir government announced compensation of 500,000 rupees for families of the dead and 100,000 for the injured. Transport authorities said they will inspect the van's fitness certificate and route permit.

The wreckage remains in the ravine pending a crane operation. Police closed the road for two hours to allow rescue. Traffic resumed late Saturday with police directing vehicles around the crash point.

An investigation into driver licensing and vehicle condition continues. Officials said charges may follow if negligence is proven.