The bodies of four young tourists from Punjab’s Gujrat district - who had gone missing eight days ago while en route to Skardu from Gilgit - have been recovered after their vehicle was traced to a deep ravine near Astak Nallah on the Gilgit-Skardu road.
According to the Gilgit-Baltistan district administration, the vehicle was found wrecked at Ganji Padi, a notoriously dangerous stretch of the 160-kilometer road that connects Gilgit with Skardu. The area falls within the jurisdiction of the Satk police station.
The victims—identified as Wasif Shahzad, 36, and Umar Ehsan, 20, of Kot Gakka; Salman Sindhu, 23, of Jasuki; and Usman Dar, 23, of Saruki—were reportedly part of the same extended family.
They left from their hometown of Gujrat on May 12 for a sightseeing tour of Gilgit and Hunza, with plans to visit Skardu thereafter.
The last known contact with the tourists was made on the night of May 15, when they were staying at Mohsin Lodge in Danyor, a suburb of Gilgit. They left for Skardu the next morning but subsequently lost all communication with their families.
When repeated attempts to contact them failed, their families reported them missing.
Law enforcement agencies launched a comprehensive search operation, setting up alerts at check posts along the Gilgit-Skardu route. The operation was intensified under the supervision of SSP Gilgit Zahoor Ahmed, who confirmed that multiple search teams were dispatched across various locations.
On Friday, local police located the tourists' car in a ravine along the riverbank near Astak Nallah. Rescue 1122 personnel, along with officers from the Satk police station and tourist police, were deployed to the scene. Initial reports indicate that three of the bodies were found inside the vehicle, while one was discovered outside.
Qamar Zaman Kaira expresses deep sorrow
Former Federal Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of four young tourists from Gujrat who lost their lives in a road accident on the Gilgit-Skardu route.
In a heartfelt message, Kaira said he is heartbroken over the sudden and untimely loss of these young lives, calling it an unbearable tragedy for the families and the entire community. He prayed for the departed souls, asking Allah to grant them a high place in Paradise and to bless the grieving families with patience and strength during this difficult time.
