A tragic incident has unfolded in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, where four tourists, including a young man from Italy, went missing while on a trip to the northern areas. The tourists, identified as Salman Nasrullah, Omar, Wasif Shahzad, and Usman Dar, were last seen on May 16, and their mobile phones were switched off after that. According to the police, the tourists had spent the night at a local hotel in Dniyor area of Gilgit on May 15 and left for Skardu the next day. However, their vehicle did not cross the Dambodas check post, and their last mobile location was reported to be Jaglot Tower.
The tourists were traveling on a dangerous mountainous road, known for accidents. In 2023, a tourist vehicle fell into the Indus River on this road, and no trace of those tourists has been found to date. Some places on this road, particularly in the Haramush area, are very hazardous for driving, with a risk of landslides. The road from Jaglot to Skardu is about 164 kilometers long, with the Indus River flowing below.
A search operation was launched, and on May 24, their wrecked car was found in a drain near Skardu Road. The rescue team, including the Al-Khidmat Adventure Club, was involved in the search operation. Syed Umar Farooq, a member of the Al-Khidmat Adventure Club, said that the police were initially slow to respond, but later became active. He added that the tourists had no experience in trekking, and their vehicle was not suitable for the road.
The tourists were traveling in a white car, which was seen on the Jaglot-Skardu road at 10:37 am on May 16 in the Sassi area. However, there is no record of the vehicle passing through the big check post of Dambodas beyond Sassi. The search operation was focused on the area between Jaglot and Dambodas, where the tourists’ vehicle was suspected to have met with an accident.
The incident highlights the risks associated with traveling on mountainous roads, especially for those without experience. The authorities are urged to take necessary measures to ensure tourist safety and provide support to the families of the missing tourists. The police and rescue teams are working to locate the missing tourists and determine the cause of the incident.
The relatives of the missing tourists are anxious and worried about their safety. Usman Warraich, a relative of two of the missing tourists, said that they last contacted their families on May 16 and told them to go to Skardu. He added that Omar and Usman Dar are studying, while Wasif is married and is the father of two children.
The search operation is ongoing, and the authorities are using CCTV cameras and mobile phone data to track the tourists’ last known location. The police have appealed to the locals living between Dambodas areas in Dniyor and Skardu to help find the tourists. The incident has raised concerns about tourist safety in the region and the need for better infrastructure and emergency services.
The fate of the missing tourists remains unknown, and their families are eagerly waiting for any news about their loved ones. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, and many are calling for increased measures to ensure tourist safety in the region. As the search operation continues, hopes are dwindling, and the thought of a tragic outcome is becoming increasingly possible.
