GILGIT: At least 20 people were killed and many others sustained injuries when a passenger bus skidded off a narrow mountain road on Karakoram Highway and plunged into a ravine, Geo News reported.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday in the Yashokhal area in Gilgit Baltistan’s Diamer District, according to the local law enforcement authorities.
The bus was enroute from Rawalpindi to Gilgit with at least 38 passengers on board. Following receipt of information, rescue teams were dispatched to the crash site to carry out rescue and relief operations. The dead and the injured were shifted to a hospital in Chilas.
Director of the health department said three women were among those killed in the acccident. Diamer Deputy Commissioner Fayyaz Ahmed told Geo News that the condition of at least five injured passengers was serious, while two had been shifted to Gilgit city.
“Rescue operation, in which army helicopters also participated, has been completed in the affected area,” he said, adding he was in contact with the families of the victims.According to him, the accident took place 20 kilometres from Chilas city when the bus was over-speeding or taking a turn.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed his grief over the loss of lives in the bus accident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. He directed the authorities concerned to provide all possible medical aid to the injured.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan also expressed his grief over the incident and directed the administration to provide best possible medical aid to the injured.Gilgit-Baltistan government’s spokesperson said emergency had been declared in Chilas hospital.