At least 18 dead in Kashmir wedding party bus accident

The accident happened around 108 kilometres northeast of Islamabad in the Janjal Hill area of Azad Kashmir

MUZAFFARABAD: At least 18 people were killed when a bus carrying a wedding party fell into into a ravine in a remote hilly area of Azad Kashmir on Sunday, officials said.

Twenty-nine others were injured, six critically, and local authorities warned the death toll could rise.

"A bus (was) carrying around 50 people, who were going to attend a wedding ceremony, from Palandari to Hajira when it fell into a ravine," local police chief Hassan Qayum said.



The bride and groom were not on the bus, local senior official Ibrar Azam told AFP.

The accident happened around 108 kilometres (around 65 miles) northeast of Islamabad in the Janjal Hill area of Azad Kashmir.

AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider condoled with the bereaved family members who lost their dear and near ones in the accident.

He directed the district administration of Pallandri to provide free medical to all the injured, and distribute the relief cheques among both deceased and injured within 24 hours.