MUZAFFARABAD: At least three people were killed and another 16, including seven women, were injured after a public transport vehicle overturned in the jurisdiction of Hattian Bala police station due to failure of brake son Saturday.

The vehicle had started its journey from Reshian village for Muzaffarabad. However, shortly after passing beyond Goharabad village, the driver realized that the vehicle’s brakes were not functioning, said a police official.

In a bid to avoid major loss on the downward steep, the driver kept the vehicle towards the mountainside, but could not maintain control over it following which the vehicle overturned and slid several feet across the road.

As a result, three passengers identified as Parveen Bibi, 45, Mohammad Akbar, 56 and Tauqeer Asharf, 30 died on the spot. Of them, Tauqeer had boarded the bus only moments ago at Goharabad village.

Of the 16 injured persons, four were allowed to go home after treatment in Hattian Bala hospital while eight were hospitalised there and four were shifted to Muzaffarabad owing to their critical condition, the official said.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2020