Couple killed in Kohistan road accident

MANSEHRA: A man and a woman were killed when a motorcar on its way to Lahore from Gilgit-Baltistan plunged into a deep ravine in Lower Kohistan on Tuesday.

“We have yet to establish the relationship between the deceased couple as the man’s bio-data has been collected but the woman had no identification documents,” Sajid Ali Yusufzai, the district emergency control officer, told reporters.

The car, carrying the man and woman, was heading to Lahore from Gilgit when the driver lost control while negotiating a sharp turn on the Karakoram Highway. As a result, the vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a deep ravine in the Luo Banda area of Pattan, the district headquarters of Lower Kohistan.

Rescue 1122 personnel rushed to the scene, retrieved the bodies from the gorge, and shifted them to the District Headquarters Hospital in Pattan.The bodies were later handed over to Rescue 1122 after doctors completed the medico-legal formalities.

Sajid Ali Yusufzai said the couple did not have computerised national identity cards or other documents. However, the police later confirmed the man’s identity as Talha Tahir, a Johar Town, Lahore resident.

“Although we have dispatched both bodies to Lahore, the investigation is still ongoing and the woman’s identity as well as her relationship with the man, has yet to be established,” he added.

Meanwhile, a wildfire broke out due to unknown reasons destroying a vast area of the Hassanzai Palosa forest in the Torghar district.According to locals, the massive fire engulfed a wide area, damaging trees, flora, and fauna.“The locals are doing their best to put out the fire which is still raging but strong winds are creating hurdles in bringing it under control,” one of the residents said.