Eleven Killed When Van Plunges Into River in Gilgit-Baltistan

Key Points

Driver lost control near Morkah Bridge; rescue teams recover bodies and two critically injured survivors.
Chief Minister Amjad Hussain orders immediate medical care and investigates potential operational negligence.
Accident investigation underway amid recurring fatal road crashes due to poor mountain infrastructure.
Two injured survivors transferred to Gahkuch hospital following initial treatment at Gupis Civil Hospital.

Editorial Deep Dive & Context

A tragic road accident occurred on Thursday evening in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region when a passenger van traveling from Gilgit to the Yasin Valley lost control near Morkah Bridge. The vehicle plunged into the Yasin River, resulting in the deaths of eleven individuals, including an infant and two women, while leaving two others critically injured.

Local police official Mohammad Afzal confirmed that the driver lost control of the vehicle, triggering a rescue operation that continued into early Friday despite darkness hampering efforts. Rescue teams, supported by local volunteers and specialist water rescue units dispatched from Gilgit, recovered the bodies and pulled the injured survivors from the water.

The victims were transported to Gupis Civil Hospital and subsequently to the district headquarters hospital in Gahkuch. Regional Chief Minister Amjad Hussain expressed deep grief over the incident and directed health officials to ensure the best possible medical care for the survivors, emphasizing strict monitoring of their treatment and condemning any potential negligence in the response. This disaster highlights the persistent dangers of road travel in Pakistan’s mountainous terrain, attributed to poor infrastructure, inadequate traffic law enforcement, and unsafe driving practices.