All 25 on board killed after passenger coaster plunges into river in Skardu district
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All 25 individuals on board a passenger coaster were killed after the vehicle fell into River Sindh in Rondu tehsil in Skardu district on Monday, Deputy Commissioner Skardu Khurram Pervaiz confirmed.
The coaster was travelling from Rawalpindi to Skardu when the accident took place.
Pervaiz said that the process of recovering and shifting bodies was underway, adding that they are being shifted to a hospital via Pakistan Army helicopters and ambulances.
Earlier, Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesman Faizullah Faraq had said the dead include two children.
The spokesman added that Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeez ur Rehman has given orders for an investigation into the incident.
Taking notice of the incident, Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Raja Jilal Hussain Maqpoon expressed his grief over the lives lost in the accident, adding that his thoughts and prayers were with the families of the victims during this difficult time.
In September of last year, 26 people died and at least 20 others suffered injuries when a Rawalpindi-bound bus from Skardu hit a small hill near Babusar Pass in Diamer district.
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Comments (23) Closed
Mar 09, 2020 11:18am
What a gruesome, gigantic, grave and great tragedy?
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Mar 09, 2020 11:26am
Inna lillahae wainna ilaihae rajeoon .
Terrible Accident
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Mar 09, 2020 11:45am
Regular occurrence and someone wants to promote tourism to these areas ?
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Mar 09, 2020 12:21pm
Drivers are not qualified and illiterates.
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Mar 09, 2020 01:40pm
Pure negligence of the boat rider, innocents lost their lives. is there any authority regulating the operations of these coasters.
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Mar 09, 2020 01:46pm
Until when innocent people will go on dieing in the hands of these bus owners? Why there is no action from any quarter? Just picking up bodies after each accident? Why the govt. does not brings any law? We must and should ban trucks and buses older than 10 years. Commercial vehicles older than 10 years should be scraped straight. More than 60-70 years old buses and trucks are running on our roads. How much money their owners want to extract from these expired vehicles?
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Mar 09, 2020 01:51pm
This is one of the many incidents taking place due to inept governmental policy and lack of regulations for transport industry. Award of inadequate money to victims and offering of Fateha are the only weapons in the arsenal of government. Follow other countries as to how they manage transportation sector efficiently. Sorry corruption of enforcement will not let you produce desirable results.
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Mar 09, 2020 02:19pm
We need to make our roads safer to attract international tourists
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Mar 09, 2020 02:56pm
RIP,victims.
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Mar 09, 2020 03:35pm
Please improve the infrastructure. Also root cause is issuing driving license without check and balance. This needs to checked seriously and drivers health check is also very important.
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Mar 09, 2020 03:43pm
It is good to know that the CM GB has ordered investigation into the matter. The matter shall come to limelight after its findings. Better for.us to pray for those deceased instead of indulging in witless speculations.
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Mar 09, 2020 03:56pm
every day there is some accident where people are dying majorities due to human error..
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Mar 09, 2020 04:15pm
I am glad that the Governor of Gilgit Baltistan has "taken notice of" the incident but am a little disturbed that after taking notice of, he has not directed or ordered the authorities to do anything. That is unusual for Pakistan.
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Mar 09, 2020 04:19pm
Inna lillahe wa inna elehe rajeoon.
I urge authorities to make our road safe and qualified drivers and road worthy vehicles to be on the road.
And especially at such dangerous trains.
Could transport authorities look into this seriously?
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Mar 09, 2020 04:40pm
What an unspeakable tragedy. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.
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Mar 09, 2020 04:54pm
Very sad. Inna Lillah e wa ina ilehey rijihoan.
However, the government must take concrete steps:
1. Stringent measures to educate and train drivers.
2. Enforcement of speed limit by deputation of traffic officers and penalising the offenders heavily in terms of suspension of permits and licences.
3. The owners of the transport companies made accountable and answerable.
4. Improving road conditions.
Mere lip service and sympathies cant bring those valuable lifes back.
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Mar 09, 2020 06:32pm
Inna Lillah he wa Inna elaihe Rajioon.
All people's soul rest in peace and high place in Janna
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Mar 09, 2020 07:56pm
@Amer, As if No accidents happen in west???
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Mar 09, 2020 08:35pm
Safety survey has become essential to halt these tragedies...
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Mar 09, 2020 08:53pm
The report of the incident says, "Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeez ur Rehman has given orders for an investigation into the incident."
Never heard anything come out of these meaningless investigations....
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Mar 09, 2020 09:38pm
According to a reliable source, there is negligence of authorities of not fixing either railings or poor quality of road/bridge that must be the cause of this tragic incident.
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Mar 10, 2020 08:06am
@rahatmathullah, Sorry? Are coasters mini-buses or boats?
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Mar 10, 2020 08:07am
@Ali Vazir, Always blame the government, not the bus drivers?
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