KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: At least eight people were killed and nine other injured when a vehicle carrying a group of tourists went out of control and plunged into a ravine in the Gittidas area near Babusar Pass in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region of the country.
Fatal road accidents are common in Pakistan, where traffic rules are rarely followed and roads, particularly in most underdeveloped areas, are in poor condition.
Gilgit-Baltistan, primarily a mountainous region, has also witnessed similar tragedies in the past. Earlier this month, five people were killed and 28 injured when a coaster carrying tourists fell into a ravine on July 16.
Prior to that, 18 people were killed in February when a tourist bus traveling to Rawalpindi crashed with a car, leaving several people injured.
“A high roof vehicle coming from Mansehra to Gilgit met an accident at Gittidas near Babusar Top,” Muhammad Ayaz, senior superintendent police in Diamer district, told Arab News. “Eight people were killed while nine were injured in the accident.”
“There was no local resident of the area in the van,” he continued. “All of them were tourists and from Sahiwal district of Punjab.”
Ayaz informed seven dead bodies had been shifted to Naran and Kaghan while one was taken to DHQ Hospital in Chilas.
Shaukat Riaz, district coordinator for Rescue 1122, told Arab News the accident occurred at about 3 pm.
“It happened about two kilometers from Babusar Pass,” he said. “The driver lost control of the vehicle which fell into a gorge. It also caught fire, leaving eight people dead and nine injured.”
Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, medical superintendent of DHQ Hospital in Chilas, said all doctors and other medical staff were available and on duty.
“We have received one dead body and nine injured people,” he informed. “The condition of five is stable. However, the rests of the four are in critical condition.”
