MUZAFFARABAD: A highly respected orthopaedic surgeon lost his life in a tragic road accident in Kotli district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Saturday, casting a pallofgrief over the entire region and his medical fraternity.

Dr Sajid Manzoor, 47, a graduate of Ayub Medical College Abbott abad who later earned his master`s degree in orthopaedic surgery from Lahore General Hospital, had recently been posted at the Divisional Headquarters Hospital in Mirpur.

He was returning to his hometown of Kotli when the accident occurred near Billi Pohrian village in the jurisdiction of Naar police station at around 3:50pm.

`While negotiating a curve, his car went out of control and plunged hundreds of feet down into a ravine, an official from Naar police station said. `He died on the spot.

A staff member at DHQ Hospital Mirpur told Dawn that Dr Manzoor had performed several surgeries earlier in the day and left the hospital at around 2:30pm to spend the weekend at home, unaware of the tragedy awaiting him.

As the body-laden ambulance, escorted by police, entered Kotli city, video clips circulating on social media showed hundreds of people liningthe roadstopay theirrespects a reflection of the deep love and admiration he commanded among the people.

Condolences and tributes poured in from across AJK and abroad, particularly from the large expatriatecommunity with roots in Kotli district.

Dr Manzoor was not only revered for his medical expertise but also remembered as a physician whose humanity defined his practice treating the poor, orphans, and underprivileged without ever seeking compensation, and responding to patients regardless of the hour or season.

AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq expressed profound grief over the tragic demise of Dr Manzoor, calling it a huge loss to the region`s healthcare sector.

`He was a dedicated and compassionate professional who served humanity with unmatched commitment. His services will be remembered for a long time,` he said in a condolence message.

Many mourners described his death as an irreparable loss notjust for Kotli and its adjoining areas, but for the entire state and its healthcare community.

He was, they said, a saviour who dedicated his life to alleviating the pain of others.

`The passing of Dr Sajid Manzoor is not just the loss of a doctor, but of a compassionate soul, a humanitarian, and an angel who carried the pain of others in his heart,` wrote Umair Chaudhry, a Kotli resident working in Dubai.

`Heartbroken by the sudden passing of Dr Sajid Manzoor a brilliant doctor, a kind soul, and an inspiration to so many. His legacy of compassion and dedication will never be forgotten,` wrote Mohammad J.

Iqbal, a leader of the JKLF based in Birmingham, UK.