Bus Accident
At least 18 wedding guests tragically lost their lives, and six others sustained injuries when a Rawalpindi-bound bus plunged into a ravine in the Astore district of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) on Tuesday, according to rescue officials.
The incident occurred near the Thalaychi Bridge, and search and rescue efforts were immediately launched to recover the victims.
So far, rescue teams have managed to recover the bodies of 12 individuals, including four women, from the river.
Among the injured is a young girl, believed to be the bride, who was found in critical condition and swiftly transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment. Efforts are still underway to locate 10 missing passengers, as rescue operations continue in the challenging terrain.
Footage from the area shows both locals and rescue personnel involved in the search efforts along the riverbed and on boats. The bus was carrying approximately 25 passengers at the time of the accident, according to initial reports, all of whom were part of a wedding party traveling from Gilgit Baltistan to Rawalpindi.
In response to the tragic accident, healthcare personnel at the nearest hospitals, including the Civil Hospital in Gilgit’s Jaglot subdivision, were put on high alert to handle the influx of injured passengers.
Rescue operations have been hampered by the remote location and difficult terrain, but local authorities are working tirelessly to assist survivors and retrieve the missing.
Accidents like this one are, unfortunately, not uncommon in the mountainous regions of Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where the combination of difficult terrain, poorly maintained roads, overloaded vehicles, and minimal traffic enforcement contributes to frequent fatalities.
The narrow, winding roads, severe weather conditions, and driver fatigue further compound the risks, making travel in these areas particularly hazardous.
Earlier this month, a similar accident occurred in KP’s district of Buner, where eight people were killed and four others injured when a van veered off the road and fell into a ravine.
In another tragic incident in September, a landslide struck a bus traveling on the Karakoram Highway in Upper Kohistan’s Dasu region, killing three individuals, including two army personnel.
GB government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq confirmed that the bus, which was transporting the wedding party, met with the fatal accident near the Thalaychi Bridge and fell into the river. He also added that rescue teams are working diligently to recover the remaining victims.
Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan, Haji Gulbar Khan, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended his condolences to the affected families.
He has instructed local authorities and rescue teams to expedite the operations and ensure that all necessary assistance is provided to the survivors and the families of the victims.
As rescue efforts continue, the tragedy serves as a reminder of the ongoing dangers posed by the difficult road conditions and treacherous driving routes in northern Pakistan, where many accidents result in significant loss of life.
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