Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district was struck by tragedy on Tuesday when a bus carrying 23 passengers plunged into the Indus River, leaving 22 dead and only one survivor. Rescue officials reported that the accident occurred in the afternoon when the vehicle, part of a wedding procession traveling from Astore to Chakwal in Punjab, fell off the Telchi bridge.
Shaukat Riaz, spokesperson for Rescue 1122, confirmed that so far two bodies and one injured person have been recovered, while a search operation continues for the remaining passengers. The victims include women, with most hailing from Astore and four from Chakwal.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families. The district administration is actively supervising the ongoing recovery efforts.
This incident highlights the frequent road accidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), often exacerbated by difficult weather conditions, treacherous terrain, and poorly maintained infrastructure. Other contributing factors include overloaded vehicles, driver fatigue, and inadequate traffic safety measures. Just last month, two people were killed and 36 injured when a bus fell into a ravine in KP’s Upper Kohistan area.
