Poonch road accident: 4 injured as dumper truck hits auto-rickshaw at Chajjla Bridge
Synopsis
A dumper truck and an e-autorickshaw collided at Chajjla Bridge in Poonch's Mendhar tehsil on the morning of 8 November, leaving four residents of Nar Mankote injured. One victim was referred to GMC Rajouri for advanced care, and police have registered a case — the latest in a recurring pattern of road accidents on J&K's hazardous hill routes.
Key Takeaways
Four people were injured after a dumper truck hit an e-autorickshaw at Chajjla Bridge , Mankote area, Mendhar tehsil , Poonch , on 8 November 2026 .
The dumper truck ( JK03P-4262 ) was travelling from Mendhar to Sagra; the autorickshaw ( JK12E-0749 ) was going from Mankote to Mendhar.
All four injured were initially taken to SDH Mendhar ; one — Abdul Rahim — was later referred to GMC Rajouri for advanced treatment.
Police have registered a case in connection with the incident.
Poonch and other hilly J&K districts face chronic road safety challenges including single-lane roads, absent crash barriers, and steep terrain.
At least four people were injured on Sunday, 8 November 2026, after a dumper truck collided with an e-autorickshaw at Chajjla Bridge in the Mankote area of Mendhar tehsil, Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. All four injured were rushed to a local hospital by residents who witnessed the collision.
How the Accident Happened
According to officials, the collision involved a dumper truck bearing registration number JK03P-4262, driven by Muhammad Asif Bhat, son of Abdul Ghani, a resident of Hanjipura Kulgam, which was travelling from Mendhar to Sagra. It struck a three-wheeler e-autorickshaw bearing registration number JK12E-0749, driven by Muhammad Mahroof, son of Muhammad Sadeeq, a resident of Nar Mankote, which was heading in the opposite direction from Mankote to Mendhar. The collision reportedly took place in the early morning hours.
Who Was Injured
Officials identified the four injured as autorickshaw driver Muhammad Mahroof, son of Muhammad Sadeeq, resident of Nar Mankote; Abdul Rahim, son of Muhammad Shabir, resident of Nar Mankote; Shabir Ahmed, resident of Nar Mankote; and Irfan Ahmed, son of Muhammad Imtaiz, resident of Nar Mankote. Locals immediately shifted all four to SDH Mendhar for treatment. One of the injured, Abdul Rahim, was subsequently referred to GMC Rajouri for advanced medical care, according to officials. Police have registered a case in connection with the incident.
The Broader Road Safety Problem in J&K's Hilly Districts
Road accidents in the hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir are a persistent concern, driven by a combination of treacherous terrain, human error, and infrastructure gaps. Twisting mountain roads, blind curves, and steep inclines reduce reaction times and make vehicle control difficult — particularly for heavier commercial vehicles such as dumper trucks. Districts including Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, and Poonch feature roads running alongside deep ravines, where even minor skids can prove fatal.
Many rural routes in these regions remain single-lane or inadequately widened, forcing oncoming traffic to manoeuvre dangerously past each other. The widespread absence of crash barriers, parapet walls, and clear road signage compounds the risk. Unrepaired potholes, eroded road edges, and poor drainage systems further degrade driving conditions. Speeding on unfamiliar winding terrain and unsafe overtaking on narrow hill roads are cited among the leading direct causes of collisions in the region.
What Happens Next
With a police case now registered, investigators will examine the circumstances of the collision, including the speed and road positioning of both vehicles at the time of impact. The condition of Abdul Rahim, referred to GMC Rajouri, will be closely monitored. This incident adds to a string of road accidents reported from hilly J&K districts and is likely to renew calls for improved safety infrastructure on the Mendhar-Mankote route.
Point of View
Like Ramban and Doda, has seen repeated collisions on routes where infrastructure investment has not kept pace with commercial vehicle traffic. The referral of a victim to GMC Rajouri underscores how limited local medical capacity compounds the injury toll. Registering a police case after the fact addresses accountability in individual incidents, but without structural interventions — crash barriers, road widening, and stricter vehicle load enforcement — the accident rate on these routes is unlikely to change.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Poonch road accident on 8 November 2026?
A dumper truck collided with an e-autorickshaw at Chajjla Bridge in the Mankote area of Mendhar tehsil, Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, on the morning of 8 November 2026, leaving four people injured. All four were residents of Nar Mankote and were taken to SDH Mendhar for treatment.
Who were the injured in the Chajjla Bridge accident?
The four injured were Muhammad Mahroof (autorickshaw driver), Abdul Rahim, Shabir Ahmed, and Irfan Ahmed, all residents of Nar Mankote in Mendhar tehsil, Poonch district.
Was anyone seriously hurt and where were they treated?
All four injured were first taken to SDH Mendhar. One of them, Abdul Rahim, son of Muhammad Shabir, was subsequently referred to GMC Rajouri for advanced medical treatment, indicating a more serious condition.
Have police taken action after the Poonch collision?
Yes, police have registered a formal case in connection with the collision between the dumper truck and the e-autorickshaw at Chajjla Bridge, Mendhar, Poonch.
Why are road accidents so common in hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir?
Accidents in J&K's hilly districts are driven by a combination of narrow single-lane roads, steep inclines, blind curves, an absence of crash barriers and parapet walls, poorly maintained road surfaces, and risky overtaking on mountain routes. Districts such as Poonch, Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar are particularly vulnerable due to roads running alongside deep ravines.
