Fatal Road Accident in Pangi Valley Claims One Life and Injures Two

A tragic road accident in Pangi Valley has left one person dead and two others injured. The incident occurred when a Bolero vehicle lost control and fell into a gorge. Local authorities are investigating the cause while residents call for improved safety measures on the treacherous mountain roads. Read on for more details about this unfortunate event and the ongoing efforts to enhance road safety in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 16, 2026, 19:16 IST

Tragic Incident in Chamba District

A devastating road accident took place in the secluded Pangi Valley of Chamba district on Friday, January 16, 2026. A Bolero vehicle, bearing registration number JK-17A-2830, lost control near Henth Nala in the Manglawas region of Luj Panchayat, resulting in a plunge of about 400 meters into a gorge.

Initial reports indicate that the vehicle was traveling from Luj to Jammu when the driver lost control on a steep section of the road, leading to the tragic incident. At the time of the crash, three individuals were inside the vehicle.

The driver, identified as Vidya Lal, aged 36, son of Hira Nand and a resident of Samyas Luni village in Tehsil Attholi, District Kishtwar (Jammu & Kashmir), died instantly.

The other two passengers, Arun Kumar, aged 15, son of Suresh Kumar from Karayas village in Tehsil Pangi, and Pradeep Kumar, aged 26, also from Samyas Luni, sustained injuries in the accident.

Local residents and authorities quickly transported the injured individuals to Civil Hospital Killar, where they are currently receiving treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.

Following the incident, a team from the local police station arrived at the scene to conduct rescue and recovery operations. The body of the deceased has been sent for postmortem, and an investigation into the accident's cause is currently underway.

This tragic event has brought sorrow to the Pangi region, prompting locals to advocate for improved safety measures on the narrow and hazardous mountain roads to avert future accidents.