Bus plunge into river leaves 2 dead, 5 missing

CHARIKAR (Pajhwok): Two passengers were killed and 23 others injured after a passenger bus plunged into the Salang River in central Parwan province, an official said Sunday.

On its way from Kunduz to Kabul, the bus veered off the road and fell into the river in the Takhmar area of Salang district late on Saturday evening, the district chief said.

Mohammad Sabir Ahmadi told Pajhwok Afghan News 50 passengers were on board. Two of them including a woman died and 23 others were injured in the incident.

Police and area people rescued 45 of the passengers but five of them were still missing, he said.

Parwan Civil Hospital Director Abdul Qasim Sangin confirmed receiving 21 wounded passengers. He said 11 of them with slight injuries had been discharged after treatment. Those with serious injuries were shifted to Kabul.

Provincial traffic department head, Mohammad Younus Pardes, said initial investigations showed the ill-fated bus was fell into the river due to high speed.

Salang highway, which connects northern provinces with Kabul, frequently witnesses such accidents. Driver negligence, bad road condition and lack of traffic signs are the main reasons for accidents.

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