Tragedy struck in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district late Friday night as a private SUV carrying multiple passengers veered off a hilly road and plunged into a 600-foot-deep gorge near Senabathi in the Ukhral Pogal Paristan area. According to officials, six people were traveling in the vehicle at the time of the accident. One of them, 20-year-old Tauqeer Ahmad, was declared dead at the scene. Rescue teams, comprising locals and emergency responders, rushed to the spot immediately after receiving reports of the crash.

Among the other injured passengers, three more — identified as Mohd Rafiq (40), Abdul Latief (40), and Ajaz Ahmad (20) — succumbed to their injuries while being transported to the hospital. Two survivors remain, one of whom is said to be in critical condition and is receiving urgent medical attention. The cause of the accident remains under investigation, though initial reports suggest the vehicle may have lost control on the treacherous mountain road. The tragic fall has once again raised concerns about road safety in the hilly terrains of Jammu and Kashmir, where such incidents remain alarmingly frequent.

Authorities have confirmed that rescue and recovery operations concluded by early Saturday morning, with assistance from the police and local volunteers. The district administration is expected to announce compensation for the victims’ families soon. This incident adds to the growing number of fatal accidents in the region, highlighting the need for improved road infrastructure and stricter vehicular safety compliance in high-risk zones. Local leaders and residents have expressed their grief over the loss of lives and called for immediate steps to prevent such tragedies in the future.