Authorities have reported a 25-passenger bus returning from a wedding plunged into a river in northern Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan late Tuesday, with only the bride as survivor.
“There were 25 people in the bus and so far, 14 dead bodies have been recovered while 10 are still missing,” rescue official Wazir Asad Ali said, adding he believed the bride was the only survivor. A senior police official in the mountainous region confirmed the incident.
There are differing reports about the number of people who have died, with some local officials saying 18 people had been confirmed dead after the crash.
Faizullah Faraq, a government spokesperson stated that the bus left the road at the Thalichi Bridge, confirming that so far only one woman had been found alive and was being treated in hospital.
The accident occurred due to speeding and the driver losing control of the vehicle, according to the authorities.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari offered his condolences after the tragedy.
The president also encouraged rescuers to work quickly to find the remaining missing passengers.
Fatal road accidents are common in Pakistan, where traffic rules are rarely followed and roads in many rural areas are in poor condition.
Crashes on the roads are common in Pakistan due to poor infrastructure. In August, more than 30 people were killed and dozens injured in two separate bus crashes.
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