At least 11 people were killed and three others injured after a passenger van plunged into the Yasin River near Noh Bridge in Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, rescue officials said.
The van was travelling from Gilgit to Hundur, a village in the upper Yasin Valley, when it fell into the river.
Rescue teams initially reported five deaths and several injuries. However, the death toll rose as rescuers recovered more bodies from the water. So far, teams have retrieved 11 bodies and rescued three injured passengers.
Rescuers shifted the injured to a hospital in Gahkuch, the district headquarters of Ghizer, for treatment. The search operation continued to determine whether anyone else was aboard the vehicle.
Rescue officials said darkness was hampering efforts to search the river. A specialised water rescue team was also called from Gilgit to assist in the operation.
The Gilgit-Baltistan van accident comes just days after another deadly crash involving a passenger bus travelling from Hunza to Rawalpindi. On November 7, eight people died and 30 others suffered injuries when the bus collided with a trailer near Havelian Interchange on the Hazara Motorway.
The National Highways and Motorway Police said they had launched an investigation to determine the cause of that crash.
Gilgit-Baltistan has witnessed several deadly road accidents in recent years. In 2018, seven men died when a passenger van plunged into a ravine near Hoper Valley.
In May 2024, at least 20 people were killed and 21 others injured when a passenger bus travelling from Rawalpindi to Gilgit-Baltistan plunged into a ravine in Diamer district. Police said the driver lost control on a narrow mountain road.
Following repeated accidents, the National Highways and Motorway Police have announced stricter enforcement measures to improve passenger safety.
The measures include checking public transport vehicles for overloading, valid fitness certificates, route permits and driving licences.
In March 2026, the force also launched a special campaign against overcharging, overloading and other traffic violations by public transport operators. It warned that passengers travelling on bus rooftops would be removed and vehicles with faulty tyres would not be allowed to continue their journeys.
