A catastrophic accident claimed the lives of six individuals, including two women and a father-son pair, early Saturday after their passenger van plummeted thousands of feet into a deep ravine in Abbottabad’s Galiyat region, reportedly due to a sudden brake malfunction.
The devastating incident occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m. when the vehicle, traveling from Beerun Gali to Abbottabad, lost control at a sharp turn. Initial reports indicate a brake failure caused the driver to veer off the narrow, mountainous road at Kharri point, sending the van straight into the gorge below.
All six occupants of the carry-van perished either instantly or shortly after the crash. The deceased were identified as Maria, 25, Fatima, 34, Zulfiqar, 45, his son Zubair, 23, Yasir, 38, and Akhtar, 35.
The Kharri stretch of road is known for being narrow and treacherous, where mechanical issues can quickly lead to tragedy. A preliminary investigation suggests that the brake system’s failure was the primary cause of the fatal plunge.
Following emergency calls, teams from Rescue 1122 and the Bagnothar Police Station were dispatched to the location. Upon arrival, they discovered that local residents had already descended into the chasm and recovered five bodies and one severely injured passenger on a self-help basis.
The lone survivor succumbed to his grave injuries while being transported to a hospital. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deadly crash.