GILGIT: The funeral prayers of 24 victims of Babusar bus accident, including 10 soldiers, were offered at Helipad Gilgit on Tuesday.

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman, Governor Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon, Commander FCNA Maj Gen Ehsan Mehmood Khan and a large number of local people, civil and military officials attended the funeral.

Twenty-six people, including eight women and four children, were killed and 20 others received injuries when a bus going from Skardu to Rawalpindi met an accident near Giti Das area in Diamer district on Sunday.

After the funeral prayers, the bodies of the deceased were shifted to their native town.

Local administration has sealed the office of the private transport company due to impending danger to human life and not fulfilling the required formalities.

Skardu Deputy Commissioner Khuram Pervaiz has directed the owners of the company to fulfil the formalities within six months otherwise their registration would be cancelled.

The deputy commissioner has also directed all the vehicles plying on different routes to get new fitness certificates from excise and taxation office within seven days.

The excise and taxation department has directed all transport companies to get their vehicles examined by the excise and taxation office in Gilgit within a week.

The transport companies have been directed to ensure that all drivers obtain medical fitness certificates after every six months from district headquarters hospital of their respective district.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2019