New details about the tragic assault on a bus in Chilas, resulting in at least nine fatalities and 26 injuries on Saturday, have emerged from the accounts of eyewitnesses and survivors.
The incident unfolded as the bus, under sudden and intense gunfire, lost control and collided with an oncoming truck, subsequently engulfing the truck in flames.
Muhammad Hussain, an eyewitness, described the gunfire as so relentless that it felt like rocks were pelting down on the bus. Nazeer, a survivor, expressed the intensity of the firing, believing it to be his last day.
Hussain recounted that the hail of bullets persisted even after the bus collided with the truck, leading to a scene of bloodshed. He noted the delayed arrival of a government vehicle carrying security and rescue officials, which reached the site 45 minutes after the incident.
Shams Lone, the Interior Minister of Gilgit Baltistan, commended the bus driver for his courage in attempting to escape the gunfire but acknowledged that this led to the collision with the truck, causing some deaths. He mentioned that the truck subsequently caught fire, resulting in the demise of its driver.
Lone clarified that the bus transported individuals from GB, Sindh, and Punjab, revealing that Mufti Sher Zaman, a religious scholar, was among those injured. The minister unequivocally labeled the attack as an act of terrorism.
Dozens Killed In Fresh Israeli Bombing On Jabalia Refugee Camp In Gaza
Mmeanwhile, the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza became a target of Israeli strikes on Sunday, raising fears of numerous casualties and people trapped under the debris. This is the second attack on this refugee camp in violation of the United Nations and human rights charters.
Ground footage depicted widespread destruction in residential areas, with individuals seen carrying the deceased and injured away from the impact zone. Last month, a double Israeli strike on the Jabalia refugee camp resulted in the death of over 80 people.
