ISLAMABAD, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and 16 others injured after a passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine in Pakistan's northeastern hill resort district of Murree near the capital Islamabad on Tuesday, rescue officials said.
The accident occurred in the Lower Barian Liran Tain area when the bus, carrying more than 20 passengers, veered off the road and fell into a deep gorge, according to Rescue 1122.
Rescue teams from Murree rushed to the site after receiving the emergency call, while additional personnel and equipment were dispatched to the site from the neighboring district.
Local residents also joined the rescue operation, helping evacuate the injured from the difficult terrain and transporting the bodies and wounded passengers to nearby hospitals.
Authorities placed the Civil Hospital Murree and the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Murree on high alert to receive the injured, with medical staff mobilized to deal with the emergency.
Rescue officials said the death toll might rise as several of the injured were in critical condition.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. ■