Tragic Wedding Bus Accident in Northern Pakistan Claims 14 Lives and Leaves 12 Missing
In a devastating incident, at least 14 people, including a newlywed couple, lost their lives, and 12 others went missing after a bus carrying a wedding party plunged into the Indus River in the mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan.
Details of the Accident
The tragic accident occurred around 1 PM local time on Tuesday as the bus, carrying 27 passengers, was en route to Chakwal, a city in Punjab province. According to government spokesman Faizullah Faraq, the bus fell into the river from the Telchi bridge in the Diamer district after the driver reportedly lost control due to overspeeding.
Rescue Efforts and Casualties
Rescue workers have so far recovered 13 bodies from the river. One passenger survived the crash with injuries, while the 12 missing passengers are presumed dead, given the rapid currents and freezing temperatures of the river. Among the deceased, the bride initially survived with serious injuries but later succumbed in the hospital. The groom, hailing from Chakwal, is among those presumed dead.
Government Response
Pakistan’s president, Asif Ali Zardari, expressed his condolences and urged rescue workers to intensify their efforts to find the missing passengers. The wreckage of the bus was retrieved from the river with the assistance of boats and divers, and the search for the missing is set to continue along the riverbanks.
Previous Incidents
This tragic event follows another grim day in August when two bus accidents in northeast and southwest Pakistan claimed at least 34 lives. In one incident, a bus carrying Shia Muslim pilgrims returning from Iraq plunged into a ravine in the Lasbela district of Balochistan province. A few hours later, another bus traveling from Kahuta in Punjab province to Rawalpindi veered off the Azad Pattan Road and plunged into a ravine, with brake failure cited as the cause in both accidents.
Conclusion
