According to preliminary information, the vehicle had left the Bairagarh check post around noon on Friday for Sach Pass.
Local police said a group of eight people, including seven tourists believed to be from outside the state, had travelled towards Sach Pass on Friday. When the vehicle neither returned by evening nor did it reach Killar in Pangi, authorities were alerted by relatives of the travellers.
Following reports of the missing vehicle, the Bairagarh police launched a search operation on Saturday. During the search, some vehicle debris was spotted near Kalaban. A subsequent inspection of the area revealed a vehicle lying in a severely damaged condition nearly 500 ft down a deep gorge, said the police.
The accident site is located in an extremely remote and rugged terrain, making rescue and recovery operations highly challenging. The police said there is no direct access route to the gorge. The absence of mobile network connectivity in the area further hampered communication and coordination efforts.
Police personnel, along with local residents, reached the spot and initiated recovery operations. However, due to darkness and the difficult terrain, the process of retrieving the bodies could not be carried out. Authorities plan to resume the operation on Sunday morning.
While initial reports suggest that all eight occupants may have lost their lives in the accident, officials have not yet issued a formal confirmation. The identities of the victims are also yet to be established.
The exact time and cause of the accident remain unknown. Police and local administration officials are continuing investigations and recovery efforts.
Further details are awaited as rescue teams work to retrieve the bodies and ascertain the identities of those involved in the accident.
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