GILGIT: Five people died and 22 others, including three women, suffered injuries when a wall collapsed on people during a function arranged in connection with the Independence Day celebrations at Jutial in Gilgit late on Tuesday night.

Accordingly hospital sources, condition of the injured people was stable and their treatment was underway at the CMH, Gilgit.

Commander Force Command Northern Areas Maj-Gen Ahsan Mehmood Khan and Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Deputy Speaker Jafarullah Khan along with other officials visited the CMH and enquired after the injured besides supervising the rescue and relief operation.

The civil and military leadership expressed heartfelt condolences with the families of the martyrs and prayed for early recovery of the injured.

According to a press release, an event organised in connection with the Independence Day celebrations was underway in Jutial area of Gilgit on Tuesday night when the incident occurred.

Thousands of people from various parts of GB, including women and children, were present at the event which had been held consistently for the last five years. Every year, the event concludes with fireworks at 12 midnight on the eve of Independence Day of Pakistan.

After the tragic incident, proceedings of the event were stopped. The government of Gilgit-Baltistan later announced that the Independence Day events would be celebrated in modest way in view of the tragedy.

According to a press release issued by ISPR, the wall collapsed because many people had climbed it to see the event.

The deceased were identified as Ali, 13, Amjad, 13, Kareemullah, 25, Zakir Hussain, 24, and Suhail Ahmed, all residents of Gilgit. The civil and military officials, leaders of political parties and people from all walks of life have expressed condolences with the bereaved families.

Meanwhile, the Independence Day of Pakistan was celebrated across Gilgit-Baltistan on Wednesday. People on this occasion expressed solidarity with Kashmiris and condemned Indian brutalities in occupied Kashmir.

Functions and rallies were organised by political, religious, social and student organisations in various areas of Gilgit, Ghizer, Hunza, Nagar, Skardu, Ghanche, Shigar, Kharmang, Diamer and Astore.

Buildings, roads and vehicles were decorated with Pakistani flags and banners, as people participated in the Independence Day celebrations and chanted slogans against the Indian government and its forces.

The speakers said on the occasion that the GB people were united in support of Kashmiri people’s struggle for freedom from India.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2019