At least four people including the bride were killed and five others sustained injuries as a car, carrying a wedding-party, skidded off and fell into a deep ravine on the Muzaffarabad-Neelam Valley road on Sunday.
According to the police, the Toyota Corolla car was on its way to Muzaffarabad from Neelum Valley with nine persons, including minor kids on board when it met the accident near Noseiri village.
Eyewitnesses say the vehicle went out of control and plunged into the deep gorge as the driver was negotiating a sharp turn near Chakranka, some 35 kilometres from the state’s metropolis.
Those who lost their lives were identified as 19-year-old bride Safeena Lateef, driver Nadeem son of Doulat Khan, Aamina wife of Muhammad Saleem and Shagufta wife of Ayaaz.
Those injured in the accident included 22-year-old groom Owais, two-year-old Aimal daughter of Ayaaz, five-year-old Aima daughter of Ayaz, six-month-old Insha daughter of Saleem, and five-year-old Noor, daughter of Abdul Qadeer.
The injured were rushed to the central hospital in Muzaffarabad.
Such accidents have become frequent, indicating that shoddy infrastructure, dilapidated vehicles and lack of compliance with traffic rules add to the overall situation.
Because of sheer negligence on the part of drivers and authorities, lives continue to be lost in such tragic incidents.
