RAWALAKOT: In a devastating accident on the Rawalakot to Rawalpindi route, a passenger coaster veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine near Pana Pul, Azaad Pattan, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 people. The fatalities include children, women, and men, all hailing from the Sudhanoti district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Emergency response teams were swiftly dispatched to the scene, where they undertook extensive efforts to retrieve the bodies and assist those injured, who remained trapped in the wreckage. Sardar Abdul Waheed, Commissioner of Poonch Division, confirmed that the tragic incident occurred near Pana Pul, located between Azaad Pattan and Kahuta. Rescue operations were coordinated by teams from Rawalakot and Sudhanoti, led by Deputy Commissioner Sudhanoti, Umar Farooq.
This incident marks a severe blow to the local community, with the casualties coming from a specific region of AJK. The rescue teams faced challenging conditions as they worked to extract victims and provide aid to survivors.
In a related and equally tragic event earlier today, a bus carrying pilgrims from Iran plunged into a ravine on the Makran Coastal Highway near Buzi Luk. This accident resulted in the death of 12 people and left 23 others injured. The bus, which was en route from Iran, reportedly suffered brake failure, causing it to veer off the highway and plummet into the ravine. Rescue teams arrived promptly to assist the injured and retrieve the deceased, transporting them to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The victims of the Makran Coastal Highway incident were reported to be from Lahore and Gujranwala. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed profound sorrow over the loss of lives in the Lasbela incident and extended her condolences to the grieving families. Both incidents underscore the urgent need for improved road safety measures and emergency response protocols to prevent such tragedies and mitigate their impact on affected communities.
#Rawalakot, #Rawalpindi, #BusAccident, #Ravine, #Sudhanoti, #AJK, #RescueEfforts, #FatalAccident, #RoadSafety, #TragicIncident, #SardarAbdulWaheed, #UmarFarooq, #MaryamNawazSharif,
