In a recent tragic incident in Neelum Valley, two tourists lost their lives, and three others, including their tour operator, went missing after a loader jeep veered off the road and plunged into a turbulent water channel in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Neelum Valley Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nadeem Ahmed Janjua, eight tourists were rescued, some with injuries. The accident occurred around 1:30 PM when the jeep, en route to the popular alpine glacial lake Ratti Gali, had traveled only three kilometers from the main Neelum Valley road. The total distance to the lake’s base is 18 kilometers.
A local witness reported to Dawn.com that the vehicle encountered a serious problem while negotiating a curve at Jabba. A driveshaft failure caused the jeep to stop moving. The driver exited the vehicle, which then rolled backward and fell into the water channel, ultimately overturning on its left side.
Residents managed to recover one of the deceased from beneath the overturned vehicle, while the other body was found downstream near Kalas village. The victims have been identified as Ahsan Sheikh from Rawalpindi and Muhammad Bachal Attar from Naushahro Feroze, Sindh.
The rescued tourists include Abu Musa’b Siddiqui and his wife Sidra Siddiqui from Karachi; Usman Mughal, Abdul Rehman Butt, and Subhan Qureshi from Wazirabad; Mehwal Attar and Saddam Hussain from Naushahro Feroze; and Abdullah Mumtaz Qureshi from Rawalpindi. Some of the injured are hospitalized but are reported to be out of danger.
The missing individuals are Imran Sheikh from Wazirabad, Asrar Ahmed Abbasi from Naushahro Feroze, and tour operator Dildar from Muzaffarabad. Rescue teams have yet to locate them.
DC Nadeem Janjua highlighted that Neelum Valley has recently seen an increase in serious road accidents, often attributed to poor vehicle maintenance and driver negligence. Since his recent appointment, he has spearheaded a crackdown on outdated and modified vehicles. Measures include removing extended footboards and side railings to prevent overcrowding, and impounding vehicles unfit for road use.
Tour operators who have misled tourists with inflated claims are also being scrutinized, with legal cases filed against two such operators. Janjua emphasized that tourists should verify the authenticity of tour operators with local authorities, tourism departments, or tourism police, who are available around the clock.
The jeep involved in this accident was a loader jeep, typically used for transporting sand and gravel, and was hired due to the recent crackdown on unfit vehicles. Janjua expressed surprise that tourists boarded such a vehicle and urged them to raise objections and report issues to authorities if they feel unsafe.
Additionally, DC Nadeem Janjua mentioned the challenges faced by the administration during the peak tourist season. With 40 link roads spanning approximately 165 kilometers, only 22 traffic police personnel are available for patrol. He called for improved road conditions, a revamped vehicle examination regime, and increased traffic and tourism police to enhance safety and assist tourists. “Tourists should plan their visits carefully and verify information from the appropriate authorities to avoid any problems,” he advised.
