Eight family members killed in Lower Kohistan as vehicle plunges into gorge

Incident occurred along the Karakoram Highway near Mita Banda area

At least eight people, including three women and several children, died when a passenger vehicle plunged into a ravine in Lower Kohistan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Monday.

The incident occurred along the Karakoram Highway near the Mita Banda area, known for its treacherous and narrow roads. According to rescue officials, the vehicle was en route from Rawalpindi to Gilgit when the driver reportedly lost control, causing it to fall into a deep gorge.

Rescue teams arrived at the scene shortly after the accident and launched a recovery operation. Authorities confirmed that the deceased included women and children. Local residents also assisted in the efforts to retrieve the victims.

The victims have been identified as Asif Iqbal of Rawalpindi, his wife Memona Iqbal, their four children, and two relatives—Aisha Siddique and Bushra Waseem.

District Police Officer (DPO) Taimur Khan confirmed the fatalities and noted that the crash took place on a particularly hazardous section of the highway adjacent to the Indus River. “All eight bodies have been shifted to a nearby health facility, from where they will be sent to Rawalpindi,” he told reporters.

DPO Khan urged drivers to exercise extreme caution when travelling through the Kohistan region, citing the challenging geography and winding road conditions that frequently contribute to such tragedies.