20 killed in Chilas bus accident (updated)

GILGIT: At least 20 people lost their lives while 21 sustained injuries as a bus veered off a narrow mountain road and plunged into the Indus River near Chilas early Friday morning.

The accident occurred in the Yashokhal area, approximately 20 kilometers from Chilas City near the Gonar Farm, at around 5:30 AM.

The bus, bearing the registration number 8831 and operated by a private transport company, was en route from Rawalpindi to Hunza. Rescue operations were promptly initiated, with teams dispatched to the accident site.

An injured passenger reported that a sudden, loud noise arose from the back of the bus just before the accident. The driver attempted to steer the bus toward the mountainside to regain control but ultimately failed.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Shehriyar Khan said sixteen people died at the scene, while four more succumbed to their injuries on the way to the hospital. The SP reported that police, GB scouts, Rescue 1122, and Frontier Constabulary participated in the rescue effort. The injured passengers and the bodies of the deceased were transported to the regional headquarters hospital in Chilas. He also noted the significant support from the local community in transporting the injured and deceased to the medical facility.

Faizullah Faraq, a spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government, confirmed the details of the casualties and noted that the bus was carrying 43 passengers at the time of the accident. An emergency has been declared at both the regional headquarters hospital in Chilas and the provincial headquarters in Gilgit to handle the influx of casualties and ensure adequate medical care is available.

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The Diamer Deputy Commissioner, Fayyaz Ahmed, reported that the rescue operations, supported by army helicopters, have been completed. He noted that the bus, likely due to over speeding or the driver losing control, fell approximately 300 meters down to the banks of the Indus River. Ahmed also mentioned that the condition of at least five injured passengers is serious, with two having been transferred to PHQ in Gilgit. He noted that three of those who could not be transported by road would be airlifted by army helicopters.

The DC office has identified twelve of the twenty deceased. The identified individuals include Muhammad Faheem from Mansehra, who was the bus driver; Kathuri, spouse of Gul Sher, and Gul Sher himself, both from Jaglot; Shahbaz Khan, son of Saheb Khan, from Raheem Abad Gilgit; Ejaz Hussain, son of Adina Shah, from Gupis Ather; Khushi Muhammad from Kala Pani Abbottabad, an FWO employee; Fida Hussain, son of Muhammad Raza, from Ghamba Skardu; Najm Khan, son of J Balaj, from Jagir Basin Gilgit; Mirza Aslam Baig, son of Dardana Shah, from Gupis Ather; Abu Zar, son of Kathur, from Thor Diamer; Muhammad Amin, son of Muhammad Riaz, from Narowal Pindi; and Waris Ali from Pindi. Eight other victims remain unidentified at this time.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his grief over the loss of lives and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families. In a statement, he directed that the injured be provided with “every possible medical treatment.” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also expressed his condolences on the incident and offered his “heartfelt sympathies” to the families of the victims. Naqvi prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and said he shared the grief of the families in this hour of sorrow.

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan also expressed his condolences over the incident, directing the administration and rescuers to provide immediate medical aid to the injured.

The tragic bus accident in Chilas is not an isolated incident, highlighting a troubling pattern of road safety concerns in Gilgit-Baltistan. In July last year, another severe accident occurred on the Karakoram Highway near the Thalichi area, where a bus carrying tourists skidded off the road due to speeding at a sharp turn, resulting in six fatalities and injuries to several others.