At least 12 people including Chinese engineers and FC personnel are said to have been killed in n an “attack” near the Dasu hydropower plant in the Upper Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
As per details, the blast targeted the bus which was was transporting staff that has been working on building the Dasu Dam.
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Following the blast, the bus plunged into a deep ravine after the blast and caused heavy losses.
It is not clear whether the casualties are direct result of the blast or the vehicle plunging into the ravine.
Inspector General Moazzam Jah Ansari, the top police official of Khyber-Paktunkhwa, the province in which the incident occurred, confirmed the death of Chinese engineers, two soldiers and two locals.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the KP Chief Minister on Information Kamran Khan Bangash has also confirmed the death of Chinese nationals.
Bangash said that a large number of security officials were deployed to protect Chinese nationals. Those who are in critical condition are being shifted via helicopter, he said. A large number of Rescue 1122 ambulances and officials have reached the spot, he added.
According to Upper Kohistan Deputy Commissioner Arif Khan Yousafzai the dead bodies and injured have been shifted to the Rural Health Centre Dasu.
One Chinese engineer and one soldier are missing, said a senior government official.
China has condemned the blast and asked Pakistan to thoroughly investigate the attack, the Chinese foreign ministry said.
Beijing asked Pakistan to protect the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular news briefing on Wednesday.
Security forces have cordoned off the area, whereas further investigation is underway.
