GILGIT: A collision between two jeeps near Deosai resulted in the death of five members of a family who were on a vacation, rescue officials have confirmed.

Seven members of a family from Baltistan including a child and two women were travelling in a jeep going towards the Deosai National Park from Skardu. They were passing through the Deosai road when an oncoming jeep hit their vehicle.

The van overturned and fell into a ravine. The deceased included three men, a woman and a child who died on the spot, Skardu SP Mirza Hassan told Dawn.

The two people injured in the accident were moved to a government hospital in Skardu where their condition was said to be stable, the SP added. Bodies of the deceased were retrieved and moved to the hospital.

According to the initial investigation, the jeep, driven by one of the family members, was speeding on a narrow road which caused the accident.

Vehicles driven by non-natives often meet with accidents due to the meandering road and rugged off-road terrains. Officials say these accidents are caused by the negligence of drivers unfamiliar with steep and narrow roads in the region.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2023