A passenger coach carrying wedding party guests fell into the Indus River in northern Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region on Tuesday, killing 26 people.
The coach, en route from Astore to Chakwal, lost control near the Thalichi area in Diamer district, reportedly due to overspeeding, and plunged off a bridge around 1 p.m. local time.
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Local residents and rescue teams, including divers, worked through the night to retrieve bodies and search for survivors, ultimately recovering 26 victims from the river. Authorities stated that operations would involve the Pakistan Navy if necessary. The lone survivor was initially reported as a woman, believed to be the bride, but later reports indicated she succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
President Asif Ali Zardari extended condolences to the victims’ families.