GILGIT: At least eight people were killed and more than two dozen injured in a gun attack on a passenger bus in Chilas, Gilgit-Baltisitan, on Saturday.
Police sources said that unknown men targeted the bus, which later caught fire, adding that women and children were among the wounded people. The bus was going to Rawalpindi from Ghizer valley.
They said 26 people, who were injured in the attack, have been shifted to Regional Headquarters Hospital Chilas for treatment.
Police have reached the site and cordoned off the area.
Rescue officials said some injured were in critical condition, and they were shifted to the nearby regional headquarters hospital for treatment. The death toll could rise, they added.
A search operation had been launched by the police to apprehend the culprits.
According to deputy commissioner (DC) of Chilas, the incident occurred around 6pm. He said that the passengers hailed from Peshawar, Kohistan and Chilas.
GB has been a relatively peaceful region in recent years. However, there have been a few attacks by militants in the past. The latest attack has caused widespread fear and panic among the residents of Chilas.
