18 killed as bus falls into river in GB

GILGIT: At least 18 people lost their lives when a bus going to Punjab from Astore in Gilgit-Baltistan fell into a river near Thalesi bridge on Tuesday, local police said. 

The police said the bus was carrying 25 people who were going to Chakwal taking a newlywed woman back to her parents home. A government official here said that the newlywed woman was rescued from the river in an injured condition.

The injured woman said that the accident occured due to overspending. She said that due to overspending the bus first hit the railing along the road near a bridge and then veered off into the river.

A police officer in Diamer said that search was ongoing to retrieve the bodies of those missing after the accident.