3 dead after van plunges into valley in Baghlan

PUL-I-KHUMRI (PAN): Three people were killed and seven others wounded after a passenger van plunged into a valley in the northern province of Baghlan, officials said on Thursday.

The accident happened on Wednesday night when the driver lost control of the vehicle that skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in the Du Shakh area on the northern side of the Salang Pass, traffic officer, Syed Mahboob Sadat, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The victims hailing from Baghlan were heading toward Pul-i-Khumri from Kabul, he said.

“I was on my way home after being deported from the Iranian border when the incident occurred,” one of the wounded people, Zabihullah, said. He said the incident was a result of fast driving despite icy conditions.

One of the wounded is in a critical condition, said Baghlan Civil Hospital head, Dr. Gul Mohammad Wardak.

Separately, unidentified gunmen torched a fuel tanker carrying logistic supplies for the NATO) in the Sang-i-Sorakh area of Dushi district, the district chief said.

Shamsuddin Sarhadi said the driver was detained by security personnel and being interrogated.

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the incident.

myn/ma

Visits: 3