MUZAFFARABAD: At least 25 tourists were swept away when a bridge collapsed in Neelum Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.
According to details, the incident occurred when the touring students from Punjab were crossing the bridge at Kundal Shai area when it collapsed as it could not withstand the pressure.
Six dead bodies and eleven injured have been recovered in the rescue operation so far. The condition of two injured students is critical.
The injured students are being shifted to CMH Muzaffarabad through army helicopters. Personnel of the Pakistan Army are also assisting in the operation.
Police sources told that victims were the students of different medical and private colleges of Lahore and Faisalabad who were touring the scenic Neelum valley.
AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, Inspector General Police Azad Kashmir and other high ranking officials were rushed to the spot and monitoring the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, AJK Acting President Shah Ghulam Qaidr, Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan, leader of the opposition in Legislative Assembly Chaudhary Muhammad Yasin and others have expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the tragic incident in Neelum Valley today.
In their separate condolences statements, all the leaders condoled to the families of the touring students who met this unfortunate incident.
They said that people and government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir share the pain with the families of deceased and injured students and standing with them in this critical time.
AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan, Inspector General Police and other high ranking officials soon after incident rushed to the Neelum Valley and supervised the rescue operation.
The Prime Minister also sought the detailed report of the sad incident.