16 dead in Swat bus plunge

A family migrating from Mingora to Kalam met a tragedy Tuesday morning when the truck carrying them fell in the River Swat, leaving 16 of them confirmed dead and some others missing, police said.

Some others were injured in the incident. Search for the remaining bodies was continued till the filing of this report. "Sixteen members of the family died when their truck fell in the river (Swat) in Pashmal area," Behrain Police Station officer Tariq Khan said. Ten children, five women and a man were among those dead, the police officer said.

"Sixteen people have been killed in the accident including 10 children and five women. Seven other passengers have been injured," Mehmood Asalam, a senior administration official in Swat, told AFP.

"We don't know any reason for the accident at the moment. It may have been caused because driver slept while driving," said Aslam.

Shakeel Khan, a police official, confirmed the death toll and said that the injured had been shifted to Saidu Sharif Hospital for better health facilities.

All of the deceased belonged to one family, he added. According to some other reports, the truck had three families and the depilated condition of the road was the reason for the accident.

Local police official Shakeel Khan confirmed the death toll, and said that the injured had been taken to a local hospital. "The injured included three men, as many women and a child," said Khan.

Families in Swat's coolest areas such as Kalam and Behrain migrate in winter to hotter parts of the district and return to homes when summer falls.

When contacted, Swat Deputy Commissioner Mehmood Aslam Wazir said the accident occurred due to negligence of the driver and excessive speed of the truck.

It is pertinent to mention here that despite tall claims of both the provincial and federal governments to boost the tourism sector in the Swat valley, the roads of upper region were not constructed after the 2009 flash floods. The locals have urged the government to take immediate action and order early repair of the Swat valley roads.

Wednesday 28 May 2014

http://paktribune.com/news/16-dead-in-Swat-bus-plunge-269320.html

http://www.nation.com.pk/national/28-May-2014/10-kids-among-16-die-as-truck-falls-into-swat-river