At least 26 people killed in bus crash in Pakistan

At least 26 people, including children, were killedwhen a passenger bus crashed into a hill in northern Pakistan onSunday, an official said.The bus was travelling from Skardu, a famous tourist destination, tothe garrison city of Rawalpindi when the accident occurred in thecountry's northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan, which borders China. Another 12 people were wounded, Faizullah Faraq, a spokesperson forthe regional government, said.The injured are being moved to a hospital in the Chilas area,although rescue workers are facing difficulties due to limitedresources, Faraq added.A process is under way to identify the dead and injured so that theirfamilies can be informed, according to the spokesman.The cause of the accident is not yet known, said Mushtaq Ali, aspokesperson for the district administration.Road accidents are common in Pakistan due to a lack of adequateinfrastructure, poorly maintained vehicles and careless driving.According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, around 9,000 roadaccidents are reported every year, killing around 4,000 people.