26 wedding guests perish as G-B van plunges into Indus

In a tragic road accident, as many as 26 passengers were killed when a coaster plunged into River Indus near Thalichi bridge, Gilgit-Baltistan.

The ill-fated coaster, carrying the wedding guests, was heading to Chakwal from district Astore, Gilgit Baltistan. Out of 27 passengers, only one woman – the bride – survived.

The Astore deputy commissioner told the media that the incident occurred at 1pm on Tuesday, when a fast moving coaster veered off due to speeding and fell into the River Indus. A total of 27 passengers were travelling in the coaster. The accident left all dead except a woman, identified as bride Malika d/o Rasool Khan.

The DC said 14 bodies were fished out and transported to District Headquarters Hospital Astore, while three teams of Rescue 1122, two boats and local divers searched the rest of the bodies till night. The operation will continue on Wednesday (today). The teams of Pakistan Navy may be called in case the local teams fail to recover the bodies.

According to local administration, the deceased were identified as Zafar Iqbal s/o Ghulam Nabi, Zia Uddin s/o Rasool Khan, Shams Uddin s/o Abdul Wahab, Robina w/o Zia Uddin, Kunain s/o Muhammad Hussain, Naheed d/o Abdul Wahab, Muhammad Shah s/o Jaffer Khan, Tahir s/o Jaffer Khan, Kulsoom d/o Ghulam Abbas among others.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his deep grief over the loss of lives in the accident.

The president directed the authorities concerned to speed up the rescue operation and conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased, according to a President House press release.

"In this hour of grief, my sympathies are with the heirs of the deceased," the president said and prayed for eternal peace for the departed souls and grant of fortitude to the bereaved families to bear the loss.

(Additional input from APP)