A passenger van veered off a mountainous road and plunged into a river in Pakistan's northern Gilgit-Baltistan region Thursday night, resulting in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to three others, according to rescue officials and police reports on Friday.
Local police official Mohammad Afzal stated that the accident occurred after the driver lost control of the vehicle. A search and rescue operation extended into early Friday, successfully recovering all 11 bodies and transporting the three injured individuals to a nearby hospital.
Regional Chief Minister Amjad Hussain issued a statement expressing profound sorrow and grief over the tragic road accident. He instructed authorities to ensure that the injured received the best possible medical care.
Road accidents are a frequent occurrence across Pakistan, often attributed to substandard road conditions, insufficient enforcement of traffic regulations, and unsafe driving practices, particularly prevalent in mountainous areas. This incident follows another fatal crash last week in eastern Pakistan, where a bus collided with a truck, killing 11 people and injuring 33 others.
Rescuers said a search and rescue operation continued into early Friday, and all 11 bodies and the three injured people had been taken to a nearby hospital.
