25 drown as coaster plunges into river.

Byline: Jamil Nagri

GILGIT -- All 25 individuals on board a passenger coaster drowned to death when the vehicle plunged into the Indus River near Rondu Valley in Skardu district on Monday.

According to officials, a private transport company coaster was travelling to Skardu from Rawalpindi on Gilgit-Skardu Road when it fell into the River Indus at 5am in Yalbu village of Rondu Valley.

Three children, two women and four Pakistan Army soldiers were among the victims. Most passengers were from Skardu and Shigar districts.

Officials said 10 bodies had been retrieved from the river while search for 16 other passengers was under way. Personnel of the Pakistan Army, Rescue 1122, district administration, and local volunteers were taking part in the rescue operation.

Force Command Northern Areas Commander Major General Ehsan Mehmood Khan arrived in the area in a helicopter and took part in the rescue operation.

The victims were identified as Ashraf Hussain, Rana, Mubashar Hussain, Manzoor Hussain, Mohammad Taqi, Salman, Ehsan Ali, Ahmed Ali, Nashaad, Nasir Khan, Ghulaam Hussain, Ahfaq, driver Hakim Khan resident of Kohistan, Rida, 3, Salar, 2, Neelma, Sajid Hussain, 31, Mohammad Sadiq, 53, Mohammad...