National Desk, 3rd December: Terrorists opened fire on a passenger bus, resulting in the tragic loss of at least eight lives and injuries to 26 others on Saturday in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Gilgit Baltistan region.
The incident occurred around 6:30 pm in Chilas as the bus was en route from Gilgit to Rawalpindi.
Following the attack, the driver lost control, leading to a collision with an oncoming truck.
According to Deputy Commissioner Chilas Arif Ahmed, five of the eight victims have been identified, and 26 injured individuals have been transported to a nearby hospital.
Among the casualties are two army soldiers who were on the bus, while a member of the Special Protection Unit sustained injuries.
The affected individuals primarily come from regions such as Kohistan, Peshawar, Ghizer, Chilas, Roundu, Skardu, Mansehra, and Swabi, with one or two individuals from Sindh. The condition of several injured people is critical, and authorities anticipate a potential rise in the death toll.
Following the attack, the terrorists managed to escape from the scene. The police have initiated an investigation into the incident, and a search operation is underway to apprehend the perpetrators. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
It is worth noting that this region has experienced violence in the past, as evidenced by a 2013 incident where gunmen attacked a camping site in Gilgit Baltistan, resulting in the tragic death of nine foreigners.