At least 17 people, including five soldiers and 12 civilians, died as a plane of Pakistan Army Aviation crashed into a residential area near the garrison city of Rawalpindi in wee hours of Tuesday, said Farooq Butt, an official at the state-run emergency service.
Two pilots, Lt Col Saqib, Lt Col Waseemare along with other Army personnel Naib Subedar Afzal, Havaldar Ibne Ameen and Havaldar Rehmat killed in the plane crash. Soon after the crash, a massive fire broke out that engulfed several houses.
According to the official who called 1122, an emergency number, informed about the crash in Rawalpindi. He also said that the authorities had declared an emergency in three nearest hospitals. He said about 20 people were injured in the plane crash.
As soon as they were informed, Pakistan Army and teams of 1122 rushed to the scene and started the rescue operation.
Butt said a rescue operation was still ongoing and that the death toll from the plane crash could rise as some of the injured persons are listed in critical condition. The cause of the plane crash is yet to be determined.
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