Death toll of road accident in north Pakistan rises to 15

At least 15 people were killed and 26 others injured when two passenger vans coming from opposite directions fell into a ravine after hitting each other near Pakistan's northern city of Murree on Wednesday night, police officials and hospital sources said. Ishtiaq Shah, chief traffic police officer, said that 15 dead bodies have been recovered from the accident site and the death toll may further rise as several passengers are still trapped in the ill-fated vans. Talking to Xinhua over the phone, Doctor Ayesha Isani, spokesperson for Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad, said that they have received 26 injured people and four dead bodies so far at the hospital, while more are being brought in. Local state TV channel PTV said that the passenger vans with altogether over 50 people on board collided and fell into a 150- 200 feet deep ravine while passing each other in Salgirah area of Murree, a resort in the country's Punjab province. The accident apparently happened due to the slippery roads caused by light rains, but further investigations are going on. Rescue officials said that they are facing problems in their work due to poor visibility and rainy weather. Rescue work is still under way and over 12 ambulances are taking part to shift the injured people to capital city Islamabad, about 29 km away from the accident site. The Army has also been called by the traffic police to help carry out rescue work. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took notice of the accident and expressed sorrow over the tragedy. He directed concerned officials to expedite the rescue work and advised traffic officials to formulate a comprehensive traffic plan during the rainy season.