Four of family laid to rest in Gojal

Unfit cars are blamed for causing accidents on Karakoram Highway

GILGIT/ KOHISTAN: Life came to a standstill in Gojal valley in Hunza district as bodies of four people, of a family, were laid to rest on Wednesday.

The road accident took place in Kohistan on Tuesday, which claimed five lives. Four of the victims were from Gojal and the driver, who also died, was from Mansehra.

Faiza, her father Ali Ahmad Jan, Aziza Farman Ali and Saeed Hasan Shah were amongst those who lost their lives in the accident. Faiza was a BS student at Bahria University, Islamabad while Aziza was a student of 12th grade at F-7/2 College Islamabad. Likewise, Saeed was a student at National College of Arts, Lahore and Ali Ahmad a professional from Gojal.

Messages of grief and sorrow flooded the social media as the news broke on Tuesday and details started pouring in by evening. “It is a sad day for Gojal valley as well as the whole of G-B,” read one of the comments on a social networking site.



“It is something beyond comprehension and has left many questions unanswered,” read another comment. A debate occurred to find the cause of this accident, with many blaming private rent-a-car service for the accident as they send unfit cars on long routes.

The travellers were on their way to Gilgit in a private car from Islamabad when the tragic incident occurred at about 9am on Tuesday. “One can’t ascertain the real causes immediately as there are no survivors but probability is the doziness and fatigue of the driver caused the accident,” said Ikramullah, a frequent traveller.

Aziz Khan, the car owner said, “The fitness of vehicles and drivers could also be an issue causing the accident.” The car accident is not the first one on Karakoram Highway between G-B and Islamabad. Over the years several rent-a-car services have met a similar fate.

However, according to Kohistan police, the car was on its way to Gilgit, carrying five persons from Rawalpindi. When it reached Chochang on the KKH, some two kilometres from Dasu, the driver lost control of the vehicle.

Subsequently, it plunged in several hundred-feet-deep ravine.  All the five passengers died on the spot.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2016.