Tragedy strikes: Eight dead, four injured in accidents

Five members of family among dead; their car plunged into Swat River

SWABI/ GILGIT/ MINGORA: At least eight people died while four were injured in separate accidents in Kohistan, Skardi, Swabi and Swat on Saturday.

In Kohistan, at least two women died and several others got injured as a bus carrying passengers from Rawalpindi to Gilgit-Baltistan skidded off the road.

The bus belonged to Silk Route Company. According to the company’s officials, last destination of the bus was Gahkuch, Ghizer.

Besides, two passengers were reportedly injured when a car — enroute to Ghanche from Skardu — plunged into a ravine due to reckless driving.

In K-P

In Swabi, one died while two others were injured when a pickup overran a motorcycle over in Aman Kot village of Swabi. Moreover, at least five passengers died when a passenger jeep plunged into Swat River in Behrain tehsil.

According to locals, five members of a family died in the accident. The keep was heading to Kalam valley from Mingora city.

“We heard a loud sound upon which we went out of our houses,” a local told the media. “We saw a jeep drowning in the river, while the passengers were struggling to get out.”

Locals and police tried to rescue the passengers.

An incharge at Kidam police station told The Express Tribune, police and locals managed to recover two bodies while the search for rest was under way.

“The main road leading to Kalam valley was badly affected by the July 2010 floods, which is why accidents are common there,” a local told The Express Tribune. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2016.