At least nine people, including two army soldiers, have been killed and 26 others injured in a gun attack on a passenger vehicle in the Pakistan-controlled zone of Kashmir, media reports said on Sunday.
The mini-van was travelling from Gilgit Baltistan to Rawalpindi when terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on it in Chilas area on Saturday evening, an official said.
The driver lost control after the attack and the bus collided with a truck, Chilas Deputy Commissioner Arif Ahmed said.
Five of the dead had been identified so far, he said, adding 26 others were injured and evacuated to a nearby hospital.
Two army soldiers, who were travelling in the bus, were among the fatalities and a member of the Special Protection Unit was injured in the attack, the deputy commissioner explained.
Most of the passengers belonged to Kohistan, Peshawar, Ghizer, Chilas, Roundu, Skardu, Mansehra, and Swabi regions and one or two to Sindh province.
The assailants managed to escape from the scene after the attack. The condition of several people is critical and the death toll is expected to rise.
Police said an investigation had been launched into the attack and a search operation was on to apprehend the perpetrators.
The casualties were taken to the regional headquarters hospital in Chilas. So far no group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
kk/mud
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