At least eight people, including a child, were killed and nine others were injured on Friday when a pickup truck carrying tourists plunged into a ravine near Babusar Pass in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, officials said.
Diamer Rescue 1122 District Coordinator Shaukat Riaz confirmed the death toll to Dawn.com.
Meanwhile, Chilas Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Wazir Liaqat said the vehicle, carrying 16 tourists, was headed to Gilgit from Sahiwal.
“After the vehicle fell into the ravine, it caught fire,” he told Dawn.com, adding that the wounded persons were being moved to the Chilas Rural Health Centre.
DSP Liaqat said one body had been brought to the health facility in Chilas while the remaining were referred to Naran. The officer further stated that the deaths occurred due to severe injuries.
Earlier this month, people were killed and 17 others were injured when a bus carrying tourists plunged into a ravine on the Karakoram Highway near the Thalichi area in GB.
Previously, five tourists were killed and 13 were injured in two traffic accidents in GB’s Hunza — when a van fell into a ravine and another crashed into a mountain.
Ramshackle highways, lax safety measures and reckless driving contribute to Pakistan’s dire road safety record.
Passenger buses are frequently crammed to capacity and seatbelts are not commonly worn or simply non-existent, meaning high death tolls from single-vehicle accidents are common.
According to World Health Organisation estimates, more than 27,000 people were killed on Pakistan’s roads in 2018.
This is a developing story that is being updated as the situation evolves. Initial reports in the media can sometimes be inaccurate. We will strive to ensure timeliness and accuracy by relying on credible sources such as concerned, qualified authorities and our staff reporters.
from The Dawn News - Home https://ift.tt/RGKAZpi
No comments: