In a heart-wrenching incident on Sunday, a tourist bus tragically veered off course. It plummeted into a deep ravine on the Karakoram Highway in the Thalichi region of the Diamer district, killing at least five people, according to rescue officials.
The ill-fated bus originated from Islamabad and was en route to Gilgit, travelling along the difficult terrain of the Karakoram Highway, a route etched at a high altitude alongside the River Indus. The exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined, leaving the authorities and the public anxious.
Tragic Accident on Karakoram Highway
In the aftermath of the accident, police and rescue teams, including the renowned Rescue 1122 squad, were promptly dispatched to the accident site to carry out emergency relief operations. Their paramount tasks included shifting the injured and deceased to nearby medical facilities.
Initial reports from police sources indicated a shocking death toll of 12, based on local witnesses’ accounts at the accident scene. This number was later adjusted to five confirmed fatalities, a heartbreaking mix of children and women.
Meanwhile, the wounded were carefully transferred to a local 10-bed civil hospital for immediate medical attention. Plans are in place to transport them to larger facilities in Gilgit for further treatment as soon as possible.
Upon hearing the news of the devastating accident, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulber Khan expressed profound sorrow over the loss of lives. He ordered the immediate provision of free medical aid to the injured victims.
In a statement released by the office of Gilgit Commissioner Najeeb Alam, it was revealed that efforts are in progress to establish contact with the families of the deceased in preparation for the sombre task of returning the bodies to their loved ones.
