ISLAMABAD — Four tourists from Gujrat who went missing in Gilgit-Baltistan on May 16 were tragically found dead on Saturday morning along the bank of the Indus River near Istak village in Skardu’s Roundu Valley.
The deceased have been identified as Wasif Shahzad, 36, and Umar Ehsan, 20, cousins from Kot Gakka near Mangowal; Salman Nasrullah Sandhu, 23, of Jassoki village; and Usman Dar, 23, of Saroki. They had arrived in Gilgit on May 13.
According to Gilgit Range Deputy Inspector General Raja Mirza Hassan, the group began their journey from Hunza to Skardu on May 15, staying overnight at a hotel near the Karakoram Highway in Danyor, Gilgit. They resumed travel on May 16, after which their mobile phones went unanswered.
Skardu Deputy Commissioner Arif Ahmad confirmed that the missing tourists’ vehicle was found near Satak Nala, having fallen into a deep gorge beside the Baltistan Highway. Rescue teams including Rescue 1122 were dispatched immediately to recover the victims.
The last confirmed location of the friends was Jaglot town in Gilgit. Police and rescue teams had been searching the route from Jaglot to Istak since their disappearance, focusing on the rugged terrain alongside the Indus River.
Local police discovered the white vehicle early Saturday in a deep gorge approximately 500 feet below the road near Ganji Padi. Istak Station House Officer Ali Faro reported that the accident was caused by high speed, resulting in the vehicle plunging into the gorge. One body was visible outside the vehicle, while three remained inside, with rescue workers using ropes to access the site.
Rescue 1122 had launched their search operation promptly after the group went missing, gathering information from police checkpoints, local hotels, and residents. The region’s challenging terrain and the dangerously high river flow complicated the search efforts.
Family members had lost contact with the group on May 16 and had appealed to the Gilgit-Baltistan government and police for assistance.
Deputy Inspector General Hassan highlighted the frequent dangers on the Baltistan road, particularly between Jaglot and Istak, where many accidents occur due to the steep landscape and proximity to the river.
The tragic loss underscores the perils faced by travelers in the region’s mountainous terrain.