ABBOTTABAD, Feb 26: At least 17 people, including four women, were killed and five others suffered injuries when a van plunged into River Kunhar after being hit by a huge rock rolling down a mountain at Kharian near Balakot on Sunday.

The passenger van was going from Balakot to Mansehra.

It fell 600ft down into the river, killing 15 people on the spot, while two died on way to hospital.

Five people with critical injuries were taken to the Ayub Teaching Hospital in Abbottabad.