In the remote village of Bani Hafiz in District Hattian, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, a devastating road accident occurred when a loader vehicle carrying three passengers skidded off a slippery mountain track and plunged down a steep slope. In an area where emergency response is often delayed due to terrain and limited access, what could have ended in greater tragedy instead became a powerful example of how community preparedness can save lives.

Under the PPAF-funded Local Area Development Programme residents were equipped with disaster preparedness training and emergency response toolkits.

Moments after the accident, a resident sounded the alarm using a megaphone, part of the community’s emergency toolkit prompting the swift mobilisation of trained volunteers from the Village Disaster Management Committee (VDMC), equipped and prepared under the project. The team used the equipment to safely descend the slope, cut through the wreckage, and rescue two trapped individuals administering lifesaving first aid on the spot. The swift, skilled, and courageous efforts of community volunteers rescued and saved two lives. “We saved lives today because we were trained and equipped. Without the rope, cutter, and first aid kit, it would not have been possible,” said Shabzada Farooq, one of the first responders.

The experience in Bani Hafiz serves as a reminder that local preparedness and coordination are essential components of disaster response, particularly in regions where professional services face access barriers.