Gilgit wedding bus tragedy: 17 bodies retrieved so far, eight still missing
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The death toll from a tragic accident involving a wedding party bus that plunged into a river in Gilgit has risen to 26, with 17 bodies recovered so far and eight still missing, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported on Wednesday.
The accident occurred near Thalchi Bridge as the bus yesterday, carrying 27 wedding guests from Gilgit to Astor, lost control reportedly due to speeding and fell into the river.
Among the deceased was the groom, whose body was found, while the bride was rescued in injured condition. The search for eight missing passengers continued till filing of this report.
Top officials from the district administration and police were present at the scene, while five local divers joined the search efforts. Three teams from Rescue 1122 will continue their search in various areas.
According to Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq, the rescue operation will proceed until the last missing individual is found.
The Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan expressed his deep sorrow over the accident and instructed authorities to expedite the rescue operation.
Reporter: Omar Farooq