12 dead as Chitral bound vehicle falls in a ravine
UPPER DIR: A coaster (C-2033) going to Chitral from Rawalpindi plunged into a ravine in the Gujjar Kaley area of Upper Dir early on Sunday. As a result, 12 people lost their lives while four to five were injured. The death toll may rise as some of the injured were said to be critical.
The coaster was carrying 24 passengers. Those who were travelling in the vehicle included Sirajuddin of Broz, Zar Nabi, son of Sher Khan, Drosh; M. Asifuddin, son of Abdul Aleem Khan, upper Chitral; Arifullah, son of Sultan Wali, Drosh; Musa Khan, upper Chitral, Taufiqur Rehman, son of Nadir Khan, Drosh; Mohammad Shafi, son of Ghulam, upper Chitral; Asimuddin, son of Ashrafuddin, Drosh; chief of Tablighi jamaat Punjab and another person from Punjab. Five of the passengers were taking a baarat to Bakrabad Chitral from Rawalpindi.
The injured and bodies were shifted to the district headquarters hospital Upper Dir. The police identified the injured as Bashiruddin, son of Azizuddin of Chiral town, Hajra Bibi, wife of Zar Nabi, Mulkhow, Hamira Bibi, wife of Taufiq of Drosh, Asifuddin, son of Halimuddin of Mulkhow, Shahid Iqbal of Chitral, Aamir, son of Mohamamd of Karachi, Naqash, son of Shamshad Masih of Faizabad Chiral, Tanwirullah, son of Nasirullah, Drosh, Nadia, daughter of Haibatullah Rawalpindi and Mohammad Usman, son of Azizul Haq of Toba Tek Singh Punjab.
Four of the injured were sent to Timargarah from where they were referred to Peshawar due to their critical condition.
It may be noted that rickety coasters have been plying on the Rawalpindi-Chitral route and despite repeated complaints the authorities never took notice of the mater. These vehicles have met with minor accidents on the route in the past too.
Courtesy: Chitral Today
