MANSEHRA: Three people were killed and nine injured when a passenger vehicle plunged into a ravine in Patlang area of Balakot here on Monday “Local residents rushed onto the scene and retrieved the injured and bodies from the ditch and shifted them to the Civil Hospital Balakot,” Mian Waheed, an eyewitness, told reporters.

He said the vehicle carrying passengers was on its way to Balakot from Patlang area when the driver lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a sharp turn on a bumpy road.

The injured included women and children.

The civil hospital doctors referred all of the injured, five of them in critical condition, to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, Mansehra.

The deceased were identified as Juma Khan, Ghulam Nabi and Sardar Munshi, all belonging to Bumpara area of Balakot.

The police said the accident occurred due to brake failure.

Dr Shahzad Ali Khan, Medical Superintended at King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, said condition of five of the injured was critical.

Meanwhile, a man was killed and three others of a family were injured when boulders struck a jeep in Shahtal area of Torghar district.

The jeep carrying passengers was on its way to Shahtal area of Judbah from Oghi when the incident occurred.

Residents shifted the injured to the Civil Hospital, Judbah.

The deceased was identified as Abdul Latif, who along with his family was on his way home from Karachi.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2024