What happened
Eight people were killed and 30 others injured when a passenger bus collided with a dumper truck near the Havelian Interchange on the Hazara Motorway early on Friday morning, rescue officials said. The bus was travelling from Gilgit to Rawalpindi when the accident happened. Initial reports suggested that a tyre burst caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle before it hit the truck, according to a Rescue 1122 statement.
Rescue 1122 Abbottabad sent seven ambulances and a rescue vehicle to the scene. Rescue workers gave first aid to the injured at the site before moving them to nearby hospitals. The eight people who died were reported to be from Gilgit. One body was taken to the Type-D Hospital in Havelian, four to the Ayub Medical Complex and three to the District Headquarters Hospital in Abbottabad.
All 30 injured passengers — including five children and six women — were taken to the Ayub Medical Complex. Four of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.
What it means for travellers
The Hazara Motorway is the main overland link between Gilgit and Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and this bus was on exactly that route, so the crash is directly relevant to anyone travelling to or from Gilgit-Baltistan by road. It is a reminder of the basics that matter on long mountain-road journeys: travel in daylight where you can, choose a reputable operator, and allow buffer time in your plans rather than booking tight onward connections on the same day.
Dawn’s report does not mention any closure of the motorway, and the incident was on the road — air links to Gilgit and Skardu are a separate mode of travel and were not part of this report. Travellers already on the road should expect possible delays around the Havelian area while rescue and clearance work is under way, and should check with their operator or driver before setting off.
What to watch
- Official confirmation of the cause — the tyre burst is so far only what initial reports suggested, not a confirmed finding.
- Condition updates for the four injured passengers reported to be in critical condition.
- Any schedule changes or safety advisories from operators on the Gilgit–Rawalpindi route.
- Whether the authorities announce any enforcement or inspection steps on the route after this crash.
Source: Dawn, “Eight killed, 30 injured in Hazara Motorway crash”
