GUJRAT: Three of the four tourists who died in a tragic accident in Gilgit Baltistan have been laid to rest after their bodies arrived in their native areas late on Sunday.

The bodies were brought to Gujrat by ambulances of Alkhidmat Foundation from Dambu Daas hospital in Gilgit. The families of the deceased and volunteers of Alkhidmat Foundation and Edhi Centre received the bodies at the old GT road. The bodies were then transported to their native villages in three different ambulances.

The four tourists included Wasif Shahzad (36) and Umar Ehsan (20) of Kot Gakka, Salman Nasrullah Sandhu (23) of Jassoki and Usman Dar (23) of Saroki villages.

The four friends left Gujrat for Gilgit Baltistan on May 12. However, their families lost contact with them on May 16 after they left a guesthouse in Danyor area to visit Skardu. Their families started frantic efforts to locate them after their mysterious disappearance. Their car and bodies were found early on May 24 in a riverine after falling from Jaglot-Skardu road. Rescue 1122, police, local administration and volunteers pulled out the bodies and car from the deep ditch.

According to family sources, the funeral prayers of three of the victims were offered and they were buried in their native village graveyards at Kot Gakka and Saroki late on Sunday. However, family members of Salman Nasrullah Sandhu, who arrived from Italy earlier this month, were being awaited after which his funeral prayers would be offered in Jassoki.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2025