Schoolchildren Injured in AJK Road Accident

At least 26 schoolchildren and their driver were injured when their van plunged into a ravine near the Chikar hill station in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Neelum Valley.

Authorities in AJK reported that the injured individuals have been transported to medical facilities. According to Superintendent Police Mirza Zahid, the van driver and two children are in critical condition.

The injured students have been admitted to DHQ Hospital Hattian Bala and Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital Chikar for treatment.

Road accidents are a recurring problem in the mountainous areas of the country, often attributed to inadequate driving skills, insufficient safety precautions, difficult terrain, and poorly maintained road infrastructure.

Overcrowding of buses and trucks beyond their designed capacity is also a contributing factor, frequently leading to vehicle rollovers.

In May, a tragic accident in Dhirkot tehsil, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of five police officers, including Assistant Director Zakir Awan and IG’s Reader Ali Bukhari, when their vehicle fell into a ravine.

The incident occurred in Lasdana, a popular tourist spot in AJK’s Bagh district. Among the deceased were policemen Fahim, SHO Naveed, and Inspector Yasir Kiani, as confirmed by the deputy commissioner of Bagh.

Official figures indicate a significant decrease of over 33% in traffic accidents across Pakistan in 2024 compared to 2023.

In 2024, a total of 6,233 traffic accidents were recorded nationwide, with 4,231 resulting in fatalities. In contrast, 2023 saw 9,333 road accidents, including 3,820 fatal incidents.

Within Azad Jammu Kashmir, 409 road accidents were documented, comprising 111 fatal and 298 non-fatal cases. In 2023, AJK reported 391 road accidents, with 115 fatalities and 276 non-fatal injuries.