A passenger coaster was thrown into the Jhelum River in a dramatic incident in Muzaffarabad after a dispute between the driver and traffic police over a fine and vehicle impoundment, officials and witnesses said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred near Supreme Court Chowk in the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir after traffic police issued a Rs5,000 challan to the driver and attempted to impound the vehicle.

According to reports, a traffic police officer boarded the coaster during the impoundment process, triggering an argument with the driver.

Witnesses said the driver, angered by the police action and alleged behaviour of the official, drove the passenger vehicle into the Jhelum River in what appeared to be an extreme act of protest.

As the vehicle plunged into the river, both the driver and the traffic officer jumped out and survived unharmed. However, the coaster was swept away by the strong current.

The incident sparked protests by the driver’s relatives and local transporters, who accused traffic police of misconduct and excessive action.

Demonstrators blocked Supreme Court Chowk for all traffic, causing long queues on both sides of the road and severe disruption for commuters.

Police and local administration officials reached the site and began negotiations with protesters to reopen the highway and restore traffic flow.