Van Plunges into River, Killing 16, Including Nine Children
A van plunged from a mountain road into the Neelam River in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, killing 16 people, mostly children, and injuring several others, Pakistani police and government officials reported Monday.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday in the Neelam Valley, as stated by the disaster management authority. Among the deceased were nine children and four women. Four passengers managed to jump from the van before it fell into the fast-flowing river, sustaining injuries.
Kashmir, claimed by both India and Pakistan, remains a contentious region. Authorities have recovered six bodies so far, and the search for the remaining victims continues. Police have indicated that there is little hope of finding any survivors.
Road accidents in Pakistan are frequently attributed to poor infrastructure and neglect of traffic regulations. Just last month, 28 people died and 20 others were injured when a speeding passenger bus fell into a ravine in the southwestern Baluchistan province.
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