At least 20 people were killed and over a dozen others were injured after a bus plunged into a gorge in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region, Arab News reports citing officials.

The passenger bus was en route to Hunza from the garrison city of Rawalpindi when it plunged into a 300-meter-deep ravine near the Gunar Farm area in GB’s Diamer district, according to Sardar Sheheryar Khan, senior superintendent of police (SSP).

Rescue 1122, police and paramilitary Frontier Constabulary and GB Scouts immediately reached the site and shifted all bodies and injured persons to the Regional Headquarters Hospital in Chilas.

“Soon after the accident, announcements were made from loudspeakers of mosques and local people rushed to the site and joined hands with the administration for the rescue,” Khan told Arab News.

“Dozens of locals are at the hospital for blood donation. Emergency has been imposed at the hospital and all doctors and paramedical staff are busy treating the injured.”

The driver lost control of the bus, which carried 42 passengers, while navigating a curve and it fell into the ravine, according to officials.

“Among the five critically injured, two were shifted to Gilgit via road and three others will be airlifted by army helicopter soon,” Fiaz Ahmad, the Diamer deputy commissioner told reporters.