Independent report
GILGIT: At least 11 people, including women and a child, were killed and two others injured when a passenger van plunged into the River Yasin near Morkah Bridge in Yasin Valley, Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, on Thursday evening.
According to reports, the ill-fated Hiace van was travelling from Gilgit towards Hundur village in Yasin Valley when it met with the accident near Morkah Bridge, close to Nau Bridge.
Rescue 1122 officials said they received information about the accident at around 8pm on Thursday. Following the report, rescue teams from Gupis, Gahkuch and Singal were immediately dispatched to the scene to launch search and rescue operations.
Local residents also joined the rescue efforts to help recover passengers from the river.
Initially, rescue teams recovered the bodies of eight victims, including six men and two women. However, the death toll subsequently rose to 11.
According to rescue officials, a 13-month-old girl was among those injured in the accident. She was initially shifted from Yasin to Gupis Hospital for medical treatment but later succumbed to her injuries.
Two other injured passengers were also shifted to medical facilities for treatment.
Rescue operations continued with the assistance of local volunteers as authorities searched for other possible victims. The exact number of missing passengers had not been confirmed in the available reports.
Rescue 1122 also dispatched additional resources from Gilgit, while a specialised water rescue team was sent to Ghizer to assist in the operation.
The incident caused grief and concern across the region. The exact cause of the accident has not yet been officially established.
