A passenger bus drove off a narrow mountain road and fell into a ravine in a remote region of Gilgit Baltistan's Diamer district, resulting in at least 20 deaths and 21 injuries, police confirmed on Friday.
The accident happened early on Friday morning, at about 5:30 a.m., near the Yashokhal region on the Karakoram Highway in Diamer, according to the police.
The bus was en route to Gilgit from Rawalpindi. There were at least 38 people on board, according to the police.
Rescue personnel were sent to the accident scene after it was reported. A hospital in Chilas has received the deceased and the injured.
According to the director of the health department, three of the deceased were women.
Diamer Deputy Commissioner Fayyaz Ahmed said that at least five injured passengers are in critical condition, and two of them have been moved to Gilgit City.
He said, "The rescue operation in the affected area, in which army helicopters also participated, has been completed."
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences and sadness over the deaths in the bus tragedy while also wishing the injured people a quick recovery.
Additionally, the premier ordered the relevant authorities to give the injured patients every medical treatment available.
Gilgit Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan also offered his sympathies over the tragic incident and directed the rescuers and administration to give the injured people appropriate medical attention.