38 Pak pilgrims killed as truck plunges into ravine

Senior superintendent of Abbotabad police Feroz Shah said brake failure appeared to be behind the accident Sunday at Nathiagali, about 80km northwest of the capital Islamabad.

"The truck plunged into an 800 feet (242 meters) deep gorge," Shah told AFP, adding that the accident happened at about 10.15 pm (1715 GMT).

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"We faced lot of difficulty due to the night. Only the police team could reach the area," said Shah.

He said 32 people had died on the spot, including the truck driver, and that rescuers had not been able to fully evacuate casualties and the bodies of victims until after daybreak on Monday.