Victims of Kohistan road accident laid to rest in tears

Funeral prayer of accident victims, attended by Governor, CM and Force Commander GB

Gahkooch: Thirteen victims of Kohistan road accident laid to rest in different villages on Wednesday, while four people including two soldiers and a woman are still missing.

According to reports, Several passengers including women and children were killed when a passenger van, traveling from northern Yasin valley of Ghizar district to Rawalpindi, plunged into 600 feet deep ravine in Kohistan on Sunday. 

According to DPO Kohistan Raja Saboor and Commissioner Diamer Astore Division Syed Abul Latif, 17 dead bodies were recovered and shifted to DHQ hospital Chilas on Monday. A woman belonging to Gupis luckily remained safe but seriously injured.

But 13 dead bodies were brought to Gahkuch in an army helicopter on Monday, among them were 12 from Gupis area and one from Yasin.

The contradictory statements of DPO Kohistan and Commissioner Diamer about the death toll (18 and 25 respectively), created confusion about the number of passengers present in van and whether it included the missing passengers.
 The dead bodies were transported to the respective villages in night and laid to rest on Tuesday. Among them were 4 members of the same family from Jondrot (Games).

Every one seen in tears when dead bodies reached native villages. Hundreds of people attended the funeral prayers offered in Yasin and in different villages of Gupis. 

Four passengers including 2 soldiers and a woman from Yasin, and a man from Gupis are missing after the incident. The missing persons were identified as Sepoy Ali Ahmed from Qorqohlti, sepoy Mairaj from Ghojahlti, Farida from Sandi and Syed Moiz from Gupis. 

Preparations to transport dead bodies to native villages 

Demand for action against transporter and compensation

Meanwhile, people have expressed anger over the poor condition of transport and asked authorities to take strict action against the Khan Coach Service which operates coasters from Yasin to Rawalpindi. The alleged the transporter of running coasters without which do not meet the standard fitness.

People also demanded the government to compensate the victims' families. The aslo demanded the authorities to hold the transporter responsible for the accident and compensate the victims' families.

Names of Kohistan accident victims 

A local news portal has published names of victims but could not be confirmed independently.

1. Shifayat R/O Gupis (Army)
2. Syed Mueez and Two others total 3. R/O khalti, Gupis
3. Four family member of Muhammad Azam’s family. He himself was not travelling. R/O Gamees Gupis
4.Mastaan R/O Gupis (army) alongwith a lady. The lady is safe.
5. Aqeel khan R/O Gupis (student)
6. Muhamnad Jalal and two others R/O Charitoee. They averted the accident as they alighted a place short of the unfortunate place of accident.

Following passangers from Yaseen

7-Fareeda from Dal sandi
8-Mehraj from Gojalti ( Army)
9-Ali Ahmad from Qorqolti (Army)
10-Afsar Ali from Taus (army)
11-A person from Karachi who was guest of Master Nazeer of central Yasin.