At least five people were killed in a tragic road accident in the Dachhan area of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. According to officials, a vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into the Chenab River.
According to preliminary information, the vehicle, bearing registration number HR29AG-0648, was travelling from Dangdaru to Soundar.
At around 10:45 a.m., the ill-fated vehicle suddenly skidded off the road near Yanwan in the Dangdaru area and plunged into the Chenab River.
Upon receiving information about the accident, a team from Dachhan Police Station, along with local residents and other personnel, reached the spot and launched a rescue and relief operation.
Officials said that five bodies had been recovered from the accident site so far. However, the exact number of people travelling in the vehicle at the time of the accident had not yet been confirmed.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that around 10 to 12 people may have been travelling in the ill-fated vehicle. The process of identifying the deceased is underway, while rescue and relief operations continue.
Authorities have also launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident and determine whether more people were travelling in the vehicle.
Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma said, "Around 10:30 a.m. today, a car with an HR registration number, carrying workers engaged in a project in Dumduru, fell approximately 200–300 feet. We have recovered five bodies so far. We have sent the bodies to Dachhan for post-mortem, after which the remaining formalities will be completed. We are still trying to determine whether more people were involved in the accident, as the car has not yet been found."
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh expressed grief over the incident and wrote on X, "Deeply saddened by the loss of five lives in a tragic road accident in Dachhan, Kishtwar. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims. I have directed the district administration and senior officials to provide immediate assistance to the affected people."
Spoke to DC #Kishtwar, Sh. Pankaj Kumar Sharma, after receiving the report of a road accident in the Dachhan area, involving a Scorpio vehicle which rolled down into a deep gorge at Yaivan.
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) August 15, 2026
Unfortunately, all the 5 passengers travelling in the vehicle lost their lives on the…
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that he spoke with Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma after receiving reports of a road accident in the Dachhan area.
Pained by the loss of five lives in a tragic road accident in Dachhan, Kishtwar. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Have directed the District Administration and senior officials to ensure immediate assistance is provided to those affected.
— Manoj Sinha (@manojsinha_) August 15, 2026
"In this accident, a car fell into a deep ravine in Yaiwan. Unfortunately, all five passengers died on the spot. Rescue teams have arrived at the scene. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims," the Lieutenant Governor said.
The mountainous Chenab region, comprising Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts, is infamous for repeated road accidents, as this belt has a history of fatal road mishaps, where steep terrain and roads overlooking deep gorges have contributed to several deadly accidents. In November 2023, 39 people were killed when a passenger bus plunged into a deep gorge in Doda's Assar area.
Dachhan in the Kishtwar district has also witnessed major tragedies in recent years. A cloudburst in Hunza village in the area in July 2021 claimed 26 lives and left several others injured.
