11 killed as van plunges into River Yasin

At least 11 people have been killed and three others injured after a passenger van plunged into the Yasin River near Noh Bridge in Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, rescue officials said on Friday.

The van was travelling from Gilgit to Hundur village in the upper Yasin Valley when it veered off the road and fell into the river.

Rescue teams rushed to the site and launched a search operation to recover passengers trapped in the water. Initial reports confirmed five deaths, but the casualty count increased as rescuers retrieved more bodies. So far, 11 bodies and three injured passengers have been recovered.

The injured were shifted to a hospital in Gahkuch, the district headquarters, for medical treatment. Meanwhile, rescue operations continued to search for anyone who might still be missing.

Officials said darkness was creating difficulties for rescue workers and slowing down the search operation. A specialised water rescue team was also called from Gilgit to assist in locating and recovering victims from the river.

The accident comes amid growing concerns over road safety in the mountainous region, which has witnessed several deadly passenger transport incidents in recent years.

On November 7, eight people were killed and 30 others injured when a passenger bus travelling from Hunza to Rawalpindi collided with a trailer near Havelian Interchange on the Hazara Motorway. Authorities subsequently launched an investigation into the crash.

In another incident in May 2024, at least 20 people lost their lives and 21 others were injured when a passenger bus travelling from Rawalpindi to Gilgit-Baltistan plunged into a ravine in Diamer district. Police said the vehicle had veered off a narrow mountain road.

Authorities have also introduced stricter enforcement measures to improve passenger safety on highways. These include inspections of public transport vehicles to ensure compliance with fitness standards, route permits, driving licences and restrictions on overloading.

The National Highways and Motorway Police launched a special campaign in March 2026 against overcharging, overloading and other traffic violations. The campaign also targeted vehicles carrying passengers on rooftops and those operating with defective tyres.