The devastating accident occurred on Tuesday evening when a bus carrying a wedding party plunged into the River Indus from the Thelchi Bridge near Jigloot. The vehicle was en route from Astore to Chakwal, Punjab, carrying over 27 passengers, including a bride and groom.
According to the Deputy Commissioner of Astore, more than 27 people were aboard the bus when it tragically fell into the river. As of now, 14 bodies have been recovered, while 13 individuals remain missing and are feared to have drowned. The lone survivor of the horrific crash is the bride, who was rescued by locals and rescue teams after the accident.
The incident occurred just before dusk, with emergency services and local volunteers rushing to the scene. Rescue teams, including divers, have recovered 14 bodies, but efforts were hampered as darkness fell, halting the search operation for the day. The operation is expected to resume tomorrow, weather permitting, to locate the missing passengers.
Eyewitnesses say the bus was traveling at a high speed when it lost control and plunged off the bridge into the fast-flowing waters of the River Indus. Authorities suspect that the bus driver may have been unable to navigate a sharp turn near the bridge, which contributed to the accident.
"We are doing everything we can to locate the missing passengers, but the conditions in the river are challenging," said a senior official involved in the rescue operation. "We hope to continue the search with the help of additional teams tomorrow."
The bride, who miraculously survived the ordeal, was rescued by locals who heard her cries for help. She is currently receiving medical attention at PHQ Gilgit, though her condition is reported to be stable.