7 killed as jeep plunges down mountain slope on outskirts of Muzaffarabad

On Sunday, a devastating accident claimed the lives of seven individuals in the outskirts of Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. The incident occurred when a passenger jeep careened down a mountain slope near Sathra Podemar village. The vehicle had only covered three kilometers before the tragedy unfolded around noon. The driver, Abdul Waheed, along with his two sons and three other passengers, lost control of the vehicle while navigating a landslide-affected stretch, sending the jeep plummeting approximately 1,000 to 1,500 feet below the road.

All seven occupants met their end at the accident site, with their bodies scattered across the wreckage. The deceased have been identified as Abdul Waheed, Muhammad Khalid, Shafaat, Fayyaz Ahmed, Ubaid Fayyaz, Azam Fayyaz, and Iftikhar Hussain. Their bodies were retrieved by locals and later recovered by Rescue 1122 personnel. Muzaffarabad Additional Deputy Commissioner Zeeshan Nisar confirmed the grim details, stating that the victims' bodies were handed over to their families for burial.

While road accidents are common in the mountainous regions of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, due to poor road conditions, reckless driving, and poorly maintained vehicles, the recent accident has reignited discussions about the fitness certification of aging and locally modified vehicles, as well as the effectiveness of authorities in enforcing transport safety regulations.