Fatal accident: Four bodies fished out of Neelum River
A van fell into the river on Friday killing 17 people, injuring 3
Rescue workers use a rope in a bid to recover passengers that fell into a river Neelum. PHOTO: AFP
MUZAFFARABAD:
Bodies of four people were recovered from River Neelam on Saturday after a van, en route to Muzzaffrabad from Neelum Valley, fell into the river on Friday.
At least 17 people were killed and three others were injured in the incident.
According to the police, the driver of the van lost control while negotiating a sharp turn near Naka Nowseri and fell from 200 metres into the river.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muzaffarabad Reyaz Bukhari told the media that four bodies—three women and a man— had been recovered on the first day of rescue operation. The three injured people were discharged from the hospital after initial treatment.
“As per police reports, 20 people were travelling in the van and bodies of 13 people are still missing. We have informed the police checkpoints at Kohala, Azad Pattan and Mangla to inform the Muzaffarabad Police Control Room if they find the bodies in their areas,” SSP Bukhari added.
He said that army divers, rescue teams of Jammat-ud-Dawah and local people did a commendable job to pull the wreckage out from the mighty river.
“We searched the wreckage and found nothing. Hence, we sadly announce that all the missing 13 passengers have drowned and there are no chances of anyone surviving, ,” he said, adding that they would use all available resources to recover the corpses.
Acting President of AJK Shah Ghulam Qadir also visited the accident site and offered the funeral prayers of the deceased.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2016.
Bodies of four people were recovered from River Neelam on Saturday after a van, en route to Muzzaffrabad from Neelum Valley, fell into the river on Friday.
At least 17 people were killed and three others were injured in the incident.
According to the police, the driver of the van lost control while negotiating a sharp turn near Naka Nowseri and fell from 200 metres into the river.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muzaffarabad Reyaz Bukhari told the media that four bodies—three women and a man— had been recovered on the first day of rescue operation. The three injured people were discharged from the hospital after initial treatment.
“As per police reports, 20 people were travelling in the van and bodies of 13 people are still missing. We have informed the police checkpoints at Kohala, Azad Pattan and Mangla to inform the Muzaffarabad Police Control Room if they find the bodies in their areas,” SSP Bukhari added.
He said that army divers, rescue teams of Jammat-ud-Dawah and local people did a commendable job to pull the wreckage out from the mighty river.
“We searched the wreckage and found nothing. Hence, we sadly announce that all the missing 13 passengers have drowned and there are no chances of anyone surviving, ,” he said, adding that they would use all available resources to recover the corpses.
Acting President of AJK Shah Ghulam Qadir also visited the accident site and offered the funeral prayers of the deceased.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2016.