ANANTNAG, June 17, 2026 : A tragic road accident claimed the lives of two persons after a private vehicle plunged into a deep gorge near Gujjar Sumbal on the Aru Valley road in Pahalgam area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday. Authorities are continuing search operations to determine whether any additional passengers were travelling in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
According to official sources, an Alto car bearing registration number JK03C-6737 met with the accident after the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle near a sharp curve along the Aru route. The vehicle skidded off the road before rolling down a steep gorge, prompting an immediate rescue response.
Rescue teams, assisted by local volunteers and police personnel, rushed to the accident site and launched a large-scale search and recovery operation under challenging terrain conditions.
Officials confirmed that two bodies have been recovered from the gorge so far. However, the identities of the deceased have not yet been officially established or released by the authorities.
Given the severity of the accident and uncertainty regarding the number of occupants in the vehicle, rescue teams continued combing the area to verify whether any other passengers were onboard when the vehicle plunged into the gorge.
Authorities stated that search operations remained underway to rule out the possibility of additional victims being trapped, injured, or missing in the difficult terrain surrounding the accident site.
Police have taken cognizance of the incident and initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the accident. Preliminary information suggests that the driver may have lost control while negotiating a sharp turn on the mountainous road, though officials said all aspects are being examined.
The accident once again highlights the risks associated with travel on hilly routes, particularly in areas characterized by steep slopes, narrow roads, and sharp bends.
Meanwhile, authorities have appealed to motorists to exercise extreme caution while driving in mountainous regions and to adhere to traffic and safety guidelines, especially on roads leading to popular tourist destinations such as Aru Valley.
Further details regarding the identities of the victims and the outcome of the ongoing search operation are awaited.
