CHARSADDA, Jan 24: Eight people were killed and 25 others wounded as a Peshawar-bound bus plunged into a ravine here on Monday morning.

Police and eyewitnesses said that bus (C-8485 Mardan) was carrying government employees to Peshawar from Katlang, Manga Dargai, Mardan and different areas of Charsadda. When the ill-fated bus reached Baira stop, Kaladher village, suddenly a motorcyclist appeared from a link road at Pordal Khan Kali. To save the motorcyclist, the bus went out of driver's control, hitting a roadside tree and then plunged into ravine. The bus was overloaded as over a dozen passengers were sitting on its roof.

As a result five passengers were killed on the spot and three on way to hospital. Twenty five injured persons, most of them critical, were taken to the district headquarters hospital Charsadda. Where doctors referred 20 critically injured to Leady Reading Hospital Peshawar.

The deceased included two brothers Qasim and Ghulam Hussain of Safiullah Korona, Dargai. They were gardeners in provincial assembly secretariat. The other deceased were identified as Bakht Mir of Mir Ahmed Shah Kali, Wesal Mohammad alias Tooray of Gujrano Kali, Gul Nawaz of Munsif Kali, Seyar Gul of Manga, head constable Sardar of Managa and Mohammad Ibrar of Gujrano Kali.

The local people rushed to the site after the incident and started rescue work. The injured were brought to hospital in ambulances and private vehicles. Emergency was declared at the Charsadda hospital. The political parties' leaders, traders and others rushed to the hospital and inquired about the health of the patients.