The cab carrying nine persons skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge near Z-Gali, 140 kms from here, on the Kupwara-Machhil road, police said.
Five persons died on the spot and four others were critically injured in the accident, they said.
Rescue teams recovered the bodies and shifted the injured to hospital, the officials said, adding that the condition of the injured was stated to be "critical".
The cab was going to Kupwara from Machhil Sector when the driver lost control while negotiating a curve, police said.