Kohistan bus accident: Elders hope work on Dasu power project to continue

MANSEHRA: Extending condolences to the families of the bus tragedy victims, the elders of Upper Kohistan on Friday hoped the work on the vital project would continue.

Thirteen persons, including nine Chinese nationals were killed when a bus fell into a ditch after an explosion in the Barseen area on Wednesday.

“We have extended all sorts of help and cooperation to the government for the execution of the 4300 megawatts Dasu hydropower project on our soil. We want to extend our sympathies with the families of Chinese and Pakistans who lost their lives in the bus accident,” Bakht Buland, a local elder, told a press conference in Dasu.

Earlier, the elders, who had assembled at Dasu, discussed in detail the situation arising after the bus tragedy.

“We are optimistic that workers and engineers of our time-tested friend, China, will continue work on the mega energy project and complete it within the stipulated period,” Bakht Buland said.

Another elder, Malik Noor Wali Shah, appreciated the army’s for airlifting the injured to the Combined Military hospitals in the country without wasting any time.

“We stand by our Chinese friends present on our soil and families of those who lost their lives in this incident,” said Noor Wali Shah.

The joint investigation team led by the Pak Army continued its task on the fourth consecutive day on Friday.

“The investigation is still underway in a highly professional and technical way and the FIR would be lodged upon completion of the probe,” said Deputy Commissioner Arif Yousafzai when contacted.

“We would be in a better position to brief the media only after completion of the probe,” said the official.