At Least 21 Killed In Northern Pakistan As Bus Falls Into River

A passenger bus plunged into a river in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, killing at least 21 people and injuring several others.

The accident occurred in the Rodu area of the Skardu district early on March 9, officials say.

The bus was traveling from the city of Rawalpindi to Skardu, a famous tourist destination located around 240 kilometers north of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

The victims included women and children. Several people were also injured.

The cause of the accident is not yet known, and rescue workers were still working at the scene recovering the injured and the dead.

Such accidents are common in Pakistan, particularly in the mountainous north, due to careless driving, poorly maintained vehicles, and a lack of adequate infrastructure.

Some 9,000 road accidents are reported in the country every year, killing around 4,000 people, according to official statistics.

With reporting by dpa and AP