At least 26 people, part of a wedding party, drowned after their bus plunged into Pakistan's Indus River in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday, Dawn reported. Diamer SSP Sher Khan said that the bus, coming from Astore district of GB, was part of a wedding procession heading towards Punjab’s Chakwal district. Twelve of the remaining passengers are missing, and one passenger has survived the accident with injuries, the statement from the authorities said.
Officials told Dawn that 27 people were on the bus at the time of the accident. Rescuers recovered 13 bodies from the river while the bride was rescued in injured condition and moved to the RHQ Hospital in Gilgit, where she succumbed to her injuries. The bus’ wreckage was pulled out of the river with the help of a crane.
The accident occurred due to speeding, and the driver losing control of the vehicle, according to the authorities. According to local broadcaster Geo, the bus was part of a wedding procession headed toward Pakistan's Chakwal district when it fell into the river from Telchi bridge at the limits of Diamer district.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari offered condolences and asked rescuers to expedite efforts to find missing passengers.
Road accidents are common in Pakistan due to poor infrastructure and disregard for traffic laws and safety standards. In August, 36 people were killed and dozens of others were injured in two separate bus crashes.
(With inputs from agency)
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