One killed, 20 injured in road accidents in Gilgit-Baltistan

GILGIT: At least one person was killed and 20 others were injured in two road accidents in the Ghanche and Diamer districts of Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday.

Rescue 1122 said a Toyota jeep carrying 18 passengers met with an accident on Siachen Road in Surmo area of the Ghanche district, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to 17 others.

According to Rescue 1122, the injured were quickly transported to Khaplu Hospital for medical treatment. Three critically injured individuals were referred to Skardu Regional Headquarters Hospital for further care. All passengers were laborers hailing from the Kandia area of Upper Kohistan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Separately, a coaster, bearing the number LES 9929, traveling from Rawalpindi to Gilgit, met with an accident at Hudur near Chilas town of Diamer district. According to Diamer police, the vehicle collided with a mountainside and overturned on the road.

Police said the coaster was carrying a total of 25 passengers. Three individuals sustained minor injuries and were promptly transported to RHQ Hospital Chilas by the efforts of the Tourist Police and Rescue 1122 personnel.

It is to be mentioned here that road accidents are on the rise in Gilgit-Baltistan since Eid and the start of the tourism influx.

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At least four people were killed and five others injured on Wednesday when a jeep carrying tourists fell into a ravine in the Bashu Valley of Skardu. The vehicle was carrying nine tourists, all of whom hailed from Punjab.