May 19, 2002	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 6, 1423

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MANSEHRA, May 18: At least ten people were killed and thirty-nine others injured when a Balakot-bound bus coming from Naran plunged into a deep ravine while negotiating a sharp turn near Osama Abad (Balakot), about 45km from here on Saturday.

According to the eyewitnesses, the bus (DNA-9577) went out of control due to over-speeding. The driver of the ill-fated bus also received injuries. The locals of the area and personnel of the Frontier Works Organization rushed to the scene and removed the dead and injured persons to the THQ Hospital Balakot and DHQ Hospital Mansehra.

The critically injured were referred to the Ayub Medical College and Hospital Complex Abbottabad.

As many as 17 injured people were brought to the DHQ hospital Mansehra where one of them scummed to his injuries.

Most of the dead and injured belonged to Balakot, Kaghan Valley and adjoining areas. Three of them hailed from Shinkiari and one from Nowshera.

Among the injured included a woman and her three-year-old daughter.