https://arab.news/4gart
- Carrying 33 passengers, tourist coaster fell into ravine in Diamer district
- Twenty-eight people have been injured in the accident, says police official
KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: At least five people were killed and 28 injured on Sunday when a coaster carrying tourists fell into a ravine in northern Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region, officials said.
Fatal road accidents are common in Pakistan, where traffic rules are rarely followed and roads, particularly in many rural areas, are in poor condition.
In February, 18 people were killed when a tourist bus traveling from GB toward Rawalpindi collided with a car, leaving several injured. Sunday’s accident took place at Thalechi in Diamer district, an official confirmed.
“This coaster was coming from Rawalpindi to Gilgit,” Shaukat Riaz, district coordinator for the Rescue 1122 service, told Arab News. “At the Thalichi [of Diamer district], turning a bend, it fell into a ravine.”
Riaz said the accident occurred at 12:30 p.m. in the afternoon.
“At least five people including a child were killed while others were injured. All injured and dead bodies have been shifted to Gilgit’s hospitals, while the rescue operation from the site has been completed,” he added.
Speaking to Arab News, Muhammad Ayaz, senior superintendent of police (SSP) for Diamer district confirmed five deaths had taken place, adding that 28 were injured.
“There were 33 people including seven children on the coaster,” Ayaz told Arab News. “All of them were tourists from the Punjab side. Treatment is being provided to the injured in Gilgit city and preparations are being finalized to shift the deceased,” he added.
Meanwhile, an emergency has been declared in Gilgit’s hospitals to ensure provision of proper medical treatment to the victims.
“All injured and dead bodies have been shifted to two hospitals in Gilgit while an emergency has been declared in all hospitals,” Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, the director of health for Gilgit told Arab News.
“All doctors and staffs are on duty and on high alert.”
Ayaz urged tourists to follow traffic regulations to avoid accidents in future.
“[Nowadays], many tourists’ vehicles are meeting with accidents in GB,” Ayaz said. “There is a big difference between driving in cities and mountainous regions. All tourists should have followed the traffic rule and driven slowly,” he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow at the loss of lives in the accident, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.
“The prime minister ordered an inquiry to ascertain the facts causing the fatal accident,” the PMO statement said. “He also directed the relevant authorities in Gilgit Baltistan for immediate relief activities, besides directing the federal departments to assist them.”