Four children killed as van plunges into ravine

MUZAFFARABAD:

Four children from the same family were killed and four others injured when a van carrying them to a religious school plunged into a deep ravine in Neelum Valley on Saturday, police said. According to Neelum Valley police, the van was travelling from Nagdar, about 20 kilometres from the district headquarters, Athmuqam, when the accident occurred. The ill-fated vehicle plunged into a deep ravine near the Karen Bypass Link Road. Police said the accident occurred on Saturday morning near Ghoray Nakkah Curve in Nagdar when the driver was negotiating a sharp blind turn. The van plunged nearly 500 metres into the ravine, killing three children on the spot and injuring four others. One of the injured children later died at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Athmuqam, police confirmed. The injured were subsequently shifted to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Hospital in Muzaffarabad for further treatment. Doctors said the injured were in critical condition. The deceased were identified as 12-year-old Hasnain, 10-year-old Taifoor, 16-yearold Aleen and two-year-old Zareed. The victims included siblings. AJK PML-N President Shah Ghulam Qadir expressed grief over the loss of the lives and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. Qadir said he had contacted the district administration in Neelum Valley and directed it to provide all possible assistance to the affected families and ensure free medical treatment for the injured.