ASTOR (Newsman): Mansehra, (Newsman): A bus carrying about two dozen wedding guests plunged into Indus river in northern Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 18 people, officials said.
The incident took place in the Gilgit-Baltistan region as the bus was en route to Chakwal, a city in Punjab province, according to government spokesperson Faizullah Farqan.
A search operation is ongoing, with rescue teams working to recover the bodies of the missing passengers. So far, only one woman has been found alive and is currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the crash, and the police have not yet taken a statement from the lone survivor.
Also Read: Tragic coaster accident on Kahuta- Rawalpindi road leaves 26 dead
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his condolences and urged rescue teams to intensify their efforts to locate the remaining missing passengers.
Road accidents are frequent in Pakistan, often attributed to poor infrastructure and a lack of enforcement of traffic laws and safety standards. In August, two separate bus accidents claimed the lives of 36 people, with dozens more injured.
Also Read: Punjab to Launch Electric Buses in Five Major Cities
The Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan expressed profound sorrow over the incident and instructed authorities to accelerate the search and rescue operations. He also called for an official report on the accident, according to a spokesperson for the government.
