MANSEHRA: Eight tourists from Lahore sustained critical injuries when their vehicle overturned on a road in the Sungar area of Balakot here on Monday.

Amir Khadam, a Rescue 1122 official, told reporters that a mini-wagon carrying visitors was on its way back to Lahore from the Kaghan Valley when it overturned due to speeding after its brakes failed. “Rescue officials, along with ambulances, rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to the Tehsil Hospital Balakot.”

Later, the injured were referred to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital in Mansehra, he added. According to doctors, the condition of two of the injured was stated to be critical.

Mr Khadam said Fakhar Abbas, Bilal Ahmad, Javed Farooq, Mujeeb Jafar, Hamza Ali, Raza Tariq, and two others were injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, a house was gutted in a massive fire in Dasu, the district headquarters of Upper Kohistan. Abdul Aziz’s family was present at home when the fire broke out, forcing them to rush outside for safety.

According to Rescue 1122, the fire rapidly engulfed the entire house and spread to nearby houses and a hotel. However, firefighters, along with a fire tender, rushed to the scene and extinguished the blaze.

Household goods, cash, valuables, and gold ornaments were reduced to ashes.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2025