11 Dead, 2 Injured as Passenger Van Plunges Into River in PoK

At least 11 people, including two women and a child, were killed and two others injured after a passenger van plunged into the Yasin River in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan region, police said on Friday.

The accident occurred on Thursday evening when the van was travelling from Gilgit to Yasin Valley in Ghizer district. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle near Morkah Bridge, sending it plunging into the river.

Rescue teams rushed to the spot and retrieved the bodies of 10 passengers, while three injured people, including a child, were pulled out alive. The injured were taken to Gupis Civil Hospital for treatment. However, the child later succumbed to injuries, taking the death toll to 11.

The deceased and injured passengers were all residents of Yasin Valley, police said, adding that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the accident.

Road accidents remain a recurring concern in the mountainous region, where difficult terrain and challenging road conditions pose risks to commuters.

In a separate accident last week, eight people were killed and 30 others injured after a passenger bus travelling from Gilgit to Islamabad collided with a dumper truck near the Havelian Interchange on the Hazara Motorway.