SKARDU, April 18: Three people were killed when a jeep fell into Indus River near Sermik, officials said late Saturday. The jeep (BLN-195) was on its way to Tarkati, Kharmang , when it fell into Indus River between Mehdiabad and Sermik at about 12am on Friday night. As a result, the driver of the jeep, the conductor and a patwari, Mohammad Kazim died.

Their bodies were recovered the next day. The jeep was hired by the district administration and was carrying kerosene oil for the people affected by Indian firing along the LoC.

REFUGEES: Refugees affected by Indian firing along the LoC have started to go back to their homes after remaining homeless for a year. Some 440 families comprising over 3,000 affectees from 18 different villages were affected by the Indian firing on the LoC and were living in temporary refugee camps at Skardu for the last one year.

At least 119 families living in the Tolti refugee camp returned to their respective villages while 60 families belonging to the Gankoh and Dancer villages had earlier returned to their homes.