16 drown as jeep plunges into Chitral River

CHITRAL: At least sixteen people drowned in Chitral River when an ill-fated passenger jeep plunged into the river near Chew Bridge.

The local people with the help of Chitral scouts pulled out nine dead bodies and the jeep from the river, while search was being conducted for the bodies of other passengers. According to police the overloaded passenger jeep was carrying 16 people from Oveer Arkari to Chitral which plunged into the river near Chew Bridge.

Police said the dead body of a female identified as Rahila Bibi daughter of Gul Rahim was also recovered from the jeep as she was stuck in her seat aside the driver. A passenger Bashiruddin, who was rescued, said that driver Afzal Aman survived in the mishap, however, he jumped into the river to rescue the drowning passengers and fell prey to splashing river. The dead bodies of four people were still missing till filing of this news.

The local people complained that most of the accidents took place as there was no protective wall on banks of Chitral River, adding that leftover construction work on the road by Communication and Works (C&W) Department was also causing an increase in the road accidents.