KUPWARA, Jammu and Kashmir — A somber wave has swept over North Kashmir after a devastating road accident late on Sunday evening, June 14, 2026, claimed the life of an elderly woman and left a local couple hospitalized with significant injuries.

The fatal crash occurred in the Marsary area of Chowkibal, located within the hilly terrains of the Kupwara district.

According to local administrative and police officials, the victims were traveling in a Maruti Alto car (bearing Delhi registration plates) when the driver lost control of the vehicle. Navigating the winding mountainous routes of Chowkibal, the vehicle skidded violently off the road near Marsary and plunged into a deep nallah (ravine) resting at the bottom of the gorge.

First responders and local volunteers rushed to the treacherous crash site to retrieve the passengers from the mangled wreckage.

Tragically, an elderly woman passenger sustained critical, unsurvivable injuries from the impact and passed away on the spot. Officials have identified the deceased as 75-year-old Shamsunissa, wife of Hidayatullah Qureshi and a resident of the nearby Bagbella area in Karnah. Her body was recovered and shifted to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) in Kralpora to fulfill necessary medico-legal formalities.

The driver of the Alto and his wife, identified as Zeenat Begum, survived the plunge but suffered severe injuries. Rescue teams carefully extracted the couple from the ravine and rushed them to SDH Kralpora, where they are currently undergoing emergency medical treatment.

Local authorities noted that tricky surface conditions and sharp turns on hilly corridors frequently present profound dangers to motorists in the mountainous sectors of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Kupwara Police have officially taken cognizance of the tragic event, registering a formal case. A thorough investigation has been initiated to determine the precise mechanical or environmental factors that caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.