Death toll rises to 12 in Neelum valley bridge collapse

Commissioner Ahmed confirmed that five women and seven men had lost their lives

MUZAFFARABAD: The death toll in the Neelum valley bridge collapse reached 12 on Monday with six tourists still missing, confirmed an official on Monday.

“Six bodies of the tourists have been recovered from the water channel while a search for the six missing persons is still underway,” Commissioner Muzaffarabad Imtiaz Ahmed told the media.

He confirmed that five women and seven men had lost their lives in the tragic incident.



The deceased were identified as Shah Zaib, Abdul Rehman Saeed, Naeem, Ifat Nadeem, Hamad and Rasham Naz.

A local man, Saim Shifat, was also among those who drowned. He lost his life while attempting to save the lives of the tourists and is still missing, the Commissioner confirmed.

Four bodies have been sent to their respective villages through an Army helicopter, an official said.

Around 28 tourists were taking pictures on the bridge, located over the Jagran stream in Kundal Shahi area when it collapsed.

The temporarily erected hanging bridge could not withstand the load of people standing on it and collapsed.