Six dead as tourist bus plunges into ravine in Diamer

GILGIT: At least six people were killed in an unfortunate incident as a tourist bus plunged into a deep ravine on its way to Gilgit via Karakoram Highway in the Thalichi area of Diamer district, rescue officials said Sunday.

As many as 12 others were injured as the bus — from Islamabad — travelled on Karakoram Highway, which is located at a high altitude along the River Indus. The reason for the accident was still unknown.

Police and rescue teams, including Rescue 1122, are carrying out efforts to shift the injured and dead to hospitals.

The police sources initially reported 12 casualties citing the locals who counted the number of bodies found at the site of the accident. However, the number of deceased was later revised to five, including a child and women.

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Meanwhile, the police and rescue teams working on the site shifted the injured to a local 10-bed civil hospital for first aid, to be later transported to Gilgit.

Taking notice of the accident, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulber Khan expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and ordered the provision of free of cost medical aid for the injured.

A statement released by the office of the Gilgit Commissioner Najeeb Alam said that efforts to contact the families of the deceased were underway for the handover of bodies.