ISLAMABAD, Oct 19 (NNN-APP) – Sixteen people were killed when a passenger bus got hit by land slide, in Skardu district of Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, yesterday, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Skardu, Anas Iqbal, said.
The bus was on its way to Skardu from east Rawalpindi, when it was struck by the land slide, the DC said, adding that, all people on board were killed and their bodies have been retrieved from the rubbles.
He said that the passengers were local residents of Skardu, who were returning home from Rawalpindi.
“The land slide happened at a remote area, miles away from residential settlement, so there was no loss of life or property, except of the ill-fated vehicle and its passengers.”
Sources from Skardu said that, the passengers included women, kids and soldiers, who were on their way home to spend their holidays.
The bodies have been shifted to a nearby hospital, from where they will be handed over to their relatives, meanwhile, the area is being cleared for traffic, the DC said.
Land slide often happens in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, owing to its mountainous terrain.
Talking about the incident, Rashid Bilal, spokesperson of Pakistan meteorological department, said that, lately there have not been enough rains in the area to cause land slide, and the possible reason of the accident might be the slow meltdown of ice in the affected area, as the region is receiving good sunlight, due to clear weather.– NNN-APP