Eleven dead and three injured after passenger van plunges into river in Pakistan

Detailed summary

A major rescue operation was launched in Pakistan's mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan region after a deadly road accident involving a passenger van left 11 people dead and three injured.

Eleven people have been killed and three others injured after a passenger van plunged off a mountain road into a river in northern Pakistan.

The crash happened in the Gilgit-Baltistan region on Thursday night, sparking an emergency response.

Rescue teams continued searching the area into Friday morning, with all 11 bodies recovered and the injured taken to a nearby hospital.

Local police official Mohammad Afzal said the driver had lost control of the van before it veered off the mountainous road and fell into the river.

Regional chief minister Amjad Hussain expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy and instructed authorities to ensure those injured received the best possible medical care.

Road accidents are common in Pakistan, particularly in mountainous areas, with poor road conditions, traffic law enforcement issues and unsafe driving practices among the contributing factors.

The latest tragedy comes just a week after another deadly accident in eastern Pakistan, where a passenger bus collided with a truck, killing 11 people and injuring 33 others.

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