Haveli Kahuta (AJK), March 16, 2025: At least five people, including a woman, lost their lives, while three others sustained injuries when a passenger coaster skidded off a snow-covered road and plunged into a ravine in Haveli district, Poonch division, on Sunday, police confirmed.
The Rawalpindi-bound vehicle met with the accident near Parthan Wali Ziarat, approximately 20 km from Forward Kahuta, the district headquarters. According to Forward Kahuta police, the coaster lost control due to the icy terrain, veering off the road and crashing into the deep gorge.
Four male passengers died on the spot, while the only female victim succumbed to her injuries en route to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital. The injured were swiftly shifted to medical facilities, with two in critical condition.
The deceased were identified as Abdul Rauf Rathore, son of Khan Muhammad, Malik Sher Baz, son of Suba Khan Awan, Chaudhry Muhammad Khurshid, son of Muhammad Din Gujjar, Khalid Hussain, son of Nek Alam and Shamim, wife of Qayyum Khan Rathore. The injured include Arif Ali, son of Chaudhry Sultan, Imran Ayub, son of Muhammad Ayub and Zeeshan, son of Khalid Gulshan.
The coaster, which had departed from Forward Kahuta early Sunday morning, encountered difficulty navigating the slippery road conditions. Some passengers had disembarked before the accident occurred, while others remained aboard as the driver struggled to maneuver through an icy stretch.
Authorities have urged travelers to exercise extreme caution on snow-covered routes, particularly in mountainous areas prone to hazardous driving conditions. Rescue and relief operations were carried out immediately, and police have launched an investigation into the incident.
