At least 20 people died while 21 others were injured on Friday morning when a passenger bus overturned on the Karakoram Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district, rescue officials said.

According to Diamer district rescue officer Shoukat Riaz, the bus, which belonged to a private company, was travelling from Rawalpindi to Gilgit when the driver lost control near Gunar Farm.

Subsequently, the bus overturned and landed near the banks of the Indus River, Riaz said. The accident took place at around 5:30am, he said.

The injured have been shifted to Chilas Hospital, the rescue officer said, adding that the number of injured was initially 35 but many succumbed to their injuries.

According to GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq, three women were also among the dead. He noted that a total of 43 passengers were on the bus.

Speaking to AFP, city police official Azmat Shah said, “Rescue operations have been completed. Among the 21 injured, the condition of five is very critical.”

The local ulema announced the news of the accident from the mosque’s loudspeaker and urged people to donate blood for the injured, Shah added.

Local resident Mohammad Zaman told Dawn.com that a large number of people had reached the hospital to donate blood for the injured. He said local volunteers helped transfer the injured and bodies to the hospital.

A statement issued by state-run Pakistan Television said rescue teams of the Pakistan Army also aided the evacuation operation with 10 people moved to the Gilgit-Baltistan Combined Military Hospital via helicopter.

It added that the army was continuing to provide immediate assistance to the accident’s victims.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his grief on the loss of lives and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families.

In a statement, he directed that the injured be provided with “every possible medical treatment”.

President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed his grief and conveyed his condolences to the victims’ relatives.

In a statement on X, he prayed for the deceased and for the speedy recovery of the wounded.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed his “heartfelt sympathies” with the bereaved families.

Naqvi prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and said he shared the grief of the families in the hour of sorrow, a statement said.

Additional input from AFP