GILGIT, Nov 13: At least five persons, including a woman and a girl, were killed on Wednesday due to a road accident near Pingul village of Ghizer District, 150km from here, an official told this reporter.

In another accident two labourers drowned.

Ghizer Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shafa told Dawn by telephone that a Toyota Hiace (Glt-1949), going from Gupis to Fundar with 16 passengers in it, fell into Gupis River near Pingul village. As a result, five of the persons died on the spot.

The dead were identified as Madad Shah, resident of Puniyal, Goharabad; Yaqub, resident of Chitral; Subedar Gorki Khan, resident of Hundarad; Mrs Shertullah and her granddaughter Afsana.

While Sher Abdullah, 25, was injured in the incident and his condition is stated to be out of danger.

Driver Mubarak Khan fled after the accident.