At least six people, including two women, died while another five sustained serious injuries when a passenger van they were travelling in fell off a bridge near Shinkiari – a Union Council located 18 kilometres north of Mansehra – on Saturday.
According to sources, the ill-fated vehicle was travelling from Mansehra to Battagram with 13 people on board when the tire of the vehicle came off at Monghan Fish Pool near Shikiari due to which it overturned and fell off the bridge.
As a result of the accident, Amanullah, Abdul Raqib, Hasan Taj, Siddiqullah and two women were killed.
Locals, rescue officials and the police reached the site of the incident and rescued the injured and recovered the bodies which were later handed over to their relatives.
Political, religious and social circles have expressed deep grief and offered sympathies with the bereaved families.
Last year in November, two people, including a woman and an infant lost their lives while seven others were injured in a road accident in Herran within the jurisdiction of Battal Police Station.
According to police sources, two Toyota Hiace vans collided with each other after which a truck also crashed into them which resulted in casualties.
One of the vans was headed to Mansehra from Battagram while the other van was going towards Battagram from Mansehra.
Amongst the dead were Nageena Bibi aged 25 and a four-month-old infant Gul Baig. Both of them were residents of the Kooza Banda Battagram area.
On the other hand side, M Wazeer Manzar from Tub Buttal, Taufeeq Wazeer ul Rehman from Chitar plain, two-year-old Anita Bibi, Husn Bibi, daughter of Saboor Khan from Abbottabad, Gul Zaib, Haleema Bibi and Alam Zaib were among the injured who were taken to the Mansehra hospital.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2023.
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