At least seven family members lost their lives when a Toyota HiAce van travelling from Swabi to Islamabad plunged into a 200-feet deep ravine in Haripur on Thursday.
The incident, attributed to high speed and poor weather conditions, occurred late at night, leaving eleven others seriously injured, with two in critical condition.
The tragic accident happened as the family was en route to drop off relatives at Islamabad airport.
Rescue officials reported that the Toyota HiAce, heading from Swabi Meera to Islamabad Airport, veered off the road and fell into a deep ditch below the mountain. The Haripur Rescue 1122 responded to the emergency call. They reached the accident site and initiated the rescue operation.
The rescue team had to cut through various parts of the mangled Toyota HiAce to extricate the trapped passengers. Medical teams on-site provided first aid to the injured before transporting them to the Haripur Trauma Centre for further treatment. Among the deceased were three women, two children, and two men.
The injured included both children and women, with two of the injured in critical condition.
The village mourned deeply as the bodies of the deceased arrived, casting a pall of grief over the community.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi expressed profound sorrow over the accident. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, extending his sympathy and prayers for the souls of the departed. The governor also wished for the swift recovery of those injured in the accident.
Two tourists killed
Meanwhile, two tourists were killed and four others injured in two different incidents in Balakot.
The first incident took place in Kiwai where a tourist’s Vigo car crashed into a residential house while speeding. According to Paras police station, a young tourist named Shah Mir, who was riding a Vigo, was killed while five tourists, including Muhammad Afzal, Samira Bibi, Sultan Umar and Abdul Wadood, were injured.
The injured were referred to the THQ Balakot after receiving first aid at Kiwai Health Centre. Similarly, in the second incident, a resident of Rawalpindi lost his balance and fell on the road while standing at the entrance of a tourist coaster returning from a tour of Naran and was crushed to death by an incoming coaster.
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